Not Your Average BIF (Bird in Flight) - Flyboys Rule

Wasn't much nature going on today.  As a matter of fact most of it probably hit the road when these guys took to the sky, and with good reason.  This is airshow weekend in Punta Gorda and the sky was abuzz with all manner of birds in flight, but there were no feathers flying.  Only sheet metal and carbonfiber.

2012 Florida International Air Show at the Punta Gorda / Charlotte County Airport – featuring the Blue Angels !

I didn't have much forewarning of this event and it was not on my schedule at all, but not having been to a show in some 20 years, I decided it was a must, especially since these guys had been buzzing the house all week.  I was primed and I was lucky enough to have some local friends accompany me, but I'd have gone by myself anyway.  It was a hot, sunny day, but fortunately the wind was blowing a bit and that kept the comfort level in the tolerable zone.  I, personally, didn't notice the weather too much, except to note the condition of my nose as the sun beat down.  I probably over did it a bit, but didn't care.

So, I'll not ramble any more, but share a few photos from the days event.  Hope you like.

U.S. Navy Bearcat (circa 1947) was the first Blue Angle.

F4U Corsair

A great day followed by some cold beers and a dip in the pool.  It doesn't get much better.  There are a few more from today and many other aircraft images on my personal site.  Hope you enjoy.

Bunche Beach

I had never heard of Bunche Beach, but my friend Nancy, and I, met a mutual friend, Liz, one early morning last week and she suggested we meet there.
Upon exiting the vehicle, the noseeum skeeters were all over us, but as we got away from the mangroves and headed toward the beach, they eased up.  It was really a pleasant morning on the beach.

As the tide receded, there became a vast area of wet sandy beach where we were able to walk out toward the feeding birds.  There were all kinds of shore birds, some in flocks and some loners, scavenging the beach for breakfast.  Liz walked out and took aim on a lone pelican and a group.  I still haven't seen her shots, but here's one of her at work.

I scooted in behind her but didn't manage to capture anything I liked but did catch a pelican in flight.

Later, came a bald eagle trying to steal an osprey's breakfast, which I missed.  The eagle was long gone as the osprey wheeled overhead, by the time I was aware.  I managed this shot of the osprey as he was leaving, and eventually saw the eagle in a tree, way too far away to photograph.

I also managed to capture this great blue heron in flight, and while not a great photograph, it made me glad that I was on the beach with the birds and not on a crowded shuttle to Key West to buy touristy things.

Venice Rookery

I had a bad day with my big lens.  It seems to have an issue with focusing to infinity and there abouts in auto mode.  I didn't even realize it until the next day and will have to use it manually the rest of my trip, and then it goes in for repair.
Venice was it's usual active self and I was pleased to see so many varieties and quantities of bird there.  There were a lot of anhinga and heron and egret, but there were also some cowbird, osprey, the ever present vultures, and a whole flock of school children.  Good that they learn early.

So here are some images from my morning at Venice.  I think we'll be visiting back there in a week or so.  Maybe then I can post some photos of the young ones we saw on the nests.