This morning a friend and I hiked back to a very remote, beautiful lake / slough, complete with a beaver lodge and dam. Hopefully it will be a future site for my amateur wildlife photography.

Below, a few of my recent photographs, taken locally. As always, comments are welcome!

Red Shouldered Hawk

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

Tufted Titmouse

 Northern Mocking Bird

 Northern Mocking Bird

 Dark -Eyed Junco

 American Goldfinch (Winter Plumage)

American Goldfinch (Winter Plumage)

 American Goldfinch (Winter Plumage)

 Crow in bright morning sunlight.

 The Common European Starling

 White-throated Sparrow

 The Amercan Dove / Mourning Dove

White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)

 White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)

 White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)

 White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)

 White Pelican (below Barkley Dam)

Killdeer

 Killdeer

Northern Cardinal (Female)

Northern Cardinal (Female)

Ring-billed Gull

"Composition is the strongest way of seeing." ~ Edward Weston

My office at Emerson Point Preserve

December 27, 2016, after spending Christmas with our daughter and family, my wife and I drove south for an extended, five week vacation in a beautiful rental home on Perico Island, FL. (Near Bradenton and Sarasota) We have had a wonderful time with good friends and family, enjoying the warm weather, sights, and the excellent seafood! 

This trip also afforded me an opportunity to pursue my hobby of amateur wildlife photography, specifically birds. Perico Island has no less than six wildlife Preserves on, or very near, brimming with wildlife. My favorite turned out to be Emerson Point Preserve near Palmetto. I have posted a few of my favorites below. 

(Click Pictures to Enlarge)

Daybreak at Emerson Point Preserve

Daybreak at Emerson Point Preserve

Bald Eagle (Emerson Point Preserve)

Double Crested Cormorant (Emerson Point Preserve)

Double Crested Cormorant (Emerson Point Preserve)

Great Blue Heron (Perico Island, FL)

Great Blue Heron (Emerson Point Preserve)

Great Egret (Perico Island, FL)

Black Vulture ( Emerson Point Preserve)

Osprey (Emerson Point Preserve)

Osprey (Perico Island, FL)

Osprey (Perico Island, FL)

Osprey (Emerson Point Preserve)

Roseate Spoonbill (Emerson Point Preserve)

Wood Stork (Emerson Point Preserve)

White Pelican (Emerson Point Preserve)

White Pelicans (Emerson Point Preserve)

Brown Pelican (Perico Island, FL)

White Pelican (Emerson Point Perserve)

American Ibis (Emerson Point Preserve)

Willets (Emerson Point Preserve)

Hooded Merganser (Emerson Point Preserve)

Anhinga (Emerson Point Preserve)

Snowy Egret (Emerson Point Preserve)

Snowy Egret (Emerson Point Preserve)

Northern Shoveler (Perico Island, FL)