This species is endemic to the southeastern part of the US. Visiting our daughter near Jacksonville provided opportunities for several trips to the area eBird suggested this species was at. Having difficulty hearing bird songs, I used the BirdNET App on my iPhone to confirm indeed they are active in the pines and walked back and forth trying to locate one by sight, to no avail. On my third visit, after 90 minutes looking for the nuthatch, i gave up and started concentrating instead on the vireo and the warblers moving through the oaks..and thats when I saw this guy on the pine next to the where the warblers chased insects. Lucky me! It provided a few minutes of observation before moving on. Heavily cropped, Topaz processed. American Lifer #504.
Tags: Florida Guana river wildlife management area Raphael Kopan Photography Nikon 600mm f4E VR 1.4x TCIII MonoPod Nature Wildlife Topaz AI D500 EXPLORE Explored
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again, a late trip to Fernald. no duck this time, but 12 swans flying back and forth...the sound the wings make is awesome!
Tags: Explore mute swan Raphael Kopan Photography Fernald Preserve Nikon Nikkor 600 f4E VR 1.4x TCIII D500 Nature BIF flight Birds in flight Explored
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After waiting in vain for short eared owls, the sun sets and THEN all these pheasants start to cross the road...to eat corn on the other side. Taken with D6 at Iso 10000, topaz processed.
Tags: Raphael Kopan Photography Circleville Ohio D6 600mm f4E VR 1.4x TCIII MonoPod Nature Wildlife EXPLORE Explored
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Waiting for her mate at the St. Augustine rookery. This is a composition of two shots- the bird was too close to me to put into a single frame. the haedless body and legs were grafted on the legless body and head in photoshop. View Large for detail ("Z" on your keyboard, twice). ISO 640, 1/8000, f4, 600mm
Tags: St. Augustin Rookery Raphael Kopan Photography D6 Nikon 600mm f4E VR 1.4x TCIII MonoPod Nature Wildlife EXPLORE Explored
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Mature Timber rattlesnake, female. this individual was over 4 feet long. we were alerted to her presence by the side of the trail by other hikers, but she crossed the trail just as we arrived so it was impossible to miss her. Here she is trying to smell the lens I am using (600mm, from a safe distance, laying on the ground). This is also the moment I decided I need a hearing aid. I can find warblers by sight, but i could not hear the rattle...birders looking up searching for birds should at least be able to hear a warning by a snake that can kill you or, if you survive, require a limb amputation. Docile as they are, timber rattlers alert you well in advance but won't tolerate you stepping on them. Aging sucks.
Tags: timber rattlesnake Rattlesnake Raphael Kopan Photography Guana river wildlife management area Florida Guana Nikon D6 nature wildlife 600mm f4 VR Guana River
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