Jul 11
20
Birds of Florida, Short Billed Dowitcher-
You’ve seen this bird before but I bet not one out of 100 people can identify it. For some reason this pretty Fall migrant who often arrives still sporting sharp rusty breeding plumage lives in obscurity among all but the most ardent birders. Get to know our Short Billed Dowitcher:
Short Billed Dowitcher, Naples Beach by Gordon Campbell www.swfloutdoorphotography.com
Appearance-
Best described as plump with a straight lance like bill and plumage that varies from a soft mottled grey in the Winter to breeding feathering of colorful rusty plumage edged in black, white & soft neutral tones.
Behavior-
Like most shore birds a large part of their day is spent head down bill in the sand probing nature’s raw bar for nutritious mollusks and invertebrates. Remember to establish as low a shooting angle as possible then. In a fertile area you may see the bulk of a large flock posed that way. Likewise at the first sign of fright be ready to photograph the entire flock blasting off to safer grounds. That’s a great opportunity for an artsy blur- ever tried that?
Here’s a Tip-
Carry a pocket sized field guide whenever you’re out to take pictures of shorebirds. As a group they’re probably one of the hardest to identify correctly every time. Similar size, color and seasonal variances in plumage make it tricky. We’ll continue with “Birds of Florida” next week. See you Friday with your weekend photography tips- Gordon.
Professional Photography from Ft. Meyers & Sanibel to Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades.
gordon@SWFLOutdoorPhotography.com
copyright 2011 Gordon Campbell/Southwest Florida Outdoor Photography
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