Before sunrise on New Year’s Day, I donned my splash gear and wetsuit boots, then launched my pedal kayak from the beach, heading across Miguel Bay, Florida toward the mangroves on the far shore. In these shallows, ibises, herons, and white pelicans often gather in the mornings after leaving their rookery island a quarter-mile away.
Equipped with my Sony A1 and a 200-600mm lens, along with a 1.4 teleconverter, I packed my gear into a waterproof bag for protection. As I approached, the flock moved further down the bay, remaining too distant for any decent photos. Nonetheless, I decided to continue to the shallows where they had been before, just in case they returned.
Upon nearing, I spotted some ibises and a yellow-crowned night heron amidst the shadows of the mangroves. I practiced capturing some dark background shots with them. While shooting, a roseate spoonbill flew overhead and landed beyond the single mangrove tree beside which I was floating. Slowly maneuvering around the tree, I positioned myself to see the bird through the foliage as it fed in the shallows.
To my amazement, the spoonbill kept drawing nearer until it was in clear view, allowing me to continue shooting. I even experimented with placing my camera on my leg for a lower perspective. This encounter marked my first time observing a spoonbill up close, let alone photographing it. It was truly an exhilarating victory for me on this New Year’s Day.