On a 90-minute journey, I found myself at Stick Marsh, Fellsmere Reservoir FL. As the sun cast its golden glow across the landscape, birds flitted about, busily tending to their morning routines. Amongst a cluster of fellow photographers, animated discussions about their prized shots filled the air. Despite initially feeling as though the day might slip by without a remarkable capture, I remained resolute in my determination to seize the moment. Straying from the group, I positioned myself in front of a small island, where birds diligently gathered materials for their nests.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, a majestic spoonbill caught my attention. Its graceful flight path diverged from the norm, descending towards the shimmering water with elegant precision. Equipped with my trusty 200 to 600 mm lens paired with a 1.4 teleconverter, I found myself perfectly poised to capture the unfolding spectacle. At 840 mm, the spoonbill appeared tantalizingly close, hurtling through the air with breathtaking speed. With swift reflexes, I fired off a series of shots, each frame encapsulating the bird’s beauty in its natural habitat.
Despite the distance, the resulting image required minimal cropping, preserving the integrity of the moment in all its unadulterated splendor.