I made it to Big Pine Key about 10 minuets before sunrise. There were a pair of Belted Kingfishers zipping around and a juvenile heron unsuccessfully hunting for fish. I always seemed to be in the wrong location because they were just out of reach to be able to get any good shots. I would move a dozen or so yards and then the activity was back where I had been.
I have noticed the the Osprey don’t seem to be early risers and they usually start fishing when the sun is a bit higher in the sky. In anticipation of their activity I positioned myself at the waters edge and waited. After a while and not seeing any Osprey I decided to relocate off the beach to an area where I had seen activity previously. It never fails, I looked back and saw an Osprey dive and emerge with a nice catch from the exact location where I was waiting for him. It would have been the perfect location had I stayed a bit longer since I would have had the wind and sun at my back assuring that he would have been well lit as he went in and then came out of the water facing upwind. I missed that one.
On my way back to my truck I stopped hoping to shoot the kingfishers. As I was waiting I noticed this Red-bellied Woodpecker land on the dead tree nearby. At least I got something today.
