Beauty of the Wild

Nature photography by Jay Paredes

Hello again everyone. It's been a while since I last sent an update. I have again added a few names to this list. I don't like to spam anyone so if I've added you recently and you'd prefer not to receive these updates, please let me know.

I recently wrote down some tips for taking flight shots with the Canon 100-400mm IS lens. I hope it is a first in a series of articles I will add to the web site from time to time to assist my fellow photographers. Please leave me some feedback on what you like or don't like about the article, or on other articles that you'd like to see in the future.

While you're there, make sure that you check out the blog. The June and July galleries are also available for viewing.

I was planning to get a group of photographers together at the end of July / beginning of August to travel to Fisheating Creek to observe and photograph the Swallow-tailed Kite roost. Supposedly hundreds, of kites gather there just before they migrate to South America in mid to late August. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the trip this year, and will have to postpone it until next year. I am currently looking for a new job and I need to spend the time job hunting instead of kite hunting. Oh well, priorities right? Anyone looking for an IT Manager? Give me a call.

The slow summer season is upon us, and there are much fewer different types of birds to observe. Two specialty birds in our area have kept me busy on the weekends. They are the Black-bellied Whistling Duck and the Snail Kite. You can find the ducks in all the major birding spots, Wakodahatchee, Green Cay, and Loxahatchee. The Snail Kites can be observed in the early mornings in and around Loxahatchee. There are at least 3 kites in the area, all of which are juveniles that are just beginning to get their adult plumage.

Here are some recent photos taken with my new lens. The Canon 300mm f2.8 IS L lens. I've been using it in conjunction with the Canon 1.4x and 2x converters. I'm still learning on it and need some practice...

Elisa Skimmer, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Canon 300mm f2.8 + Canon 1.4x Extender.

Snail Kite (male), Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Canon 300mm f2.8 + Canon 1.4x Extender.

Snail Kite (juvenile), Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Canon 300mm + Canon 2x Extender.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Canon 300mm + Canon 2x Extender.

Thank you.