This movie a compilation of photographs and video I have made in my backyard on Phillippi Creek since the spring of 2011. The movie is 17 minutes long, so if you do not have time now, you may want to bookmark it for viewing at a later time.
All the photographs and videos were made with a Panasonic GH2. I have never made so many photographs (and videos) from just one spot. My backyard is about 40 yards wide. There is always something happening, whether it is wildlife, changing light or patterns on the water. Enjoy!
Category Archives: Birds
Mineola Journal Video Shorts
It has been some time since I have posted something to my blog. I have been working on a number of projects and as always, learning image related software. Soon I will be posting a long version of my Mineola Journal, but in the meantime, Here are some brief videos. Phillippi Creek of Sarasota Florida is the water way.
Manatees
Manatees frolicking. At the end of the video you will see
Egret
This egret was disturbed by a boat wake
Mineola Journal #7
To me Ibis are the Jimmy Durante of birds with their long beak. They are grazers, often moving across our lawn in groups of 6 or more. I hope you enjoy this brief video. My homage to Ibis or is it Ibii.
Mineola Journal 4 – 6
#4 Great Egrets
Great Egrets are very commonly seen in the creek. They appear very tame and will walk right by with no concern. We also see Snowy Egrets and Cattle Egrets.
#5 Manatees
We do see Manatees quite often in creek off our backyard, but all we usually see is their nose coming up for air and a little bit of wake. On this day there was a lot of action happening because they were maiting.
#6 Great Blue Herons
Great Blue Herons are a very common presence here. Sometimes they will stand for hours in the same place doing nothing but standing and preening. As you will see, one of the Great Blue Herons had some kind of mouthful.
Mineola Journal 1-3
#1 Heron & Spoonbill
Since I purchase a new camera (Panasonic Lumix GH2) I have been making videos with this remarkable camera. These “Mineola Journals” are short videos taken in our backyard (Mineola is the street we live on). Our backyard ends at Phillippi Creek which is a long meandering creek the empties into the Gulf.
#2 Anhingas
We see Anhingas often in the creek. They have no oil in their wings like other water birds and so they have to dry them off in order for them to fly effectively.
#3 Reflections
Late in the day, with the sun low in the sky, interesting patterns form on the opposite shore.
Refections are so difficult to communicate through still photos. Video really is able to capture the mood of moving reflections.
Bird Land
Play Video
I never thought I would be photographing birds. In my thirty plus years of photography, I never had photographed birds before. Just now I went outside for a break and there was an Egret fishing in the canal behind the house not more than ten yards away. So the birds are hard to avoid here in Sarasota. I have put together another video slideshow of birds I have met.
This is the second slideshow/video I have created and any feedback would be appreciated. Enjoy!
Birds on the Beach
Terns, Gulls, Egrets, Herons, Pelicans, Pipers, Osprey, etc..etc..etc. And I can see why from all the schools of small fish in the water. One time the water was so dense with small fish that I thought there was a deep impression in the bottom creating a shadow. It was hundreds of thousands of small fish.
The Egrets are very bold, walking right by me intent of catching it’s next bit. That’s all these little fish could be, and so the birds keep hunting after swallowing their last catch.
When I am swimming, the Pelicans will dive right next to me and then take off right over my head. Usually I am at the beach early or late in the day and the light on their feathers as they pass over me is stunning.