Looking to start photographing birds...

[Martian]

I know this will no doubt turn into a political discussion, but I am hoping to get a little advice before it gets locked.

I have been a casual photographer for most of my life and a professional for about 5 years.

I have never shot nature - landscapes, animals, birds, insects, etc. and I thought it would renew my passion to expand into these areas. I have added an ultra-long lense for birds and a macro lense for insects.

Now, I just need some suggestions on where to go sit and shoot here in The Villages.

[C4Boston]

Fenney nature walk comes to mind.

[MrExcite721]

Hogeye Sink trail in Marsh Bend, too many bird types to name !

[queasy27]

Lake Sumter is another option for water birds. You might also contact user alemorkam for further suggestions. He/she posts frequently under the Picture Perfect forum. Have fun!

[Martian]

Thank you all very much, I had planned to visit the nature trail behind Fenny Grill (since I live right down the street). I very much appreciate the other suggestions!

My wife just got back from Washington (she was gone for 6 months to be a transplant buddy for her son) and I mentioned I was going to start photographing birds and nature, and she wants to join it, so we are getting her a camera outfit and we will make this a date day weekly!

This is something we can do alone while maintaining social distancing.

(BTW: I am currently staying in our office/extra bedroom and she is staying in the bedroom for 14 days of self-isolation since she flew back - it ends Friday, we are really looking forward to hugging and kissing again after so long :)

YEAH!

[mamamia54]

What a wonderful hobby to do together. Enjoy every minute of it!

[queasy27]

The Villages Birders (https://www.villagebirders.org/birding-locations)club has recommended locations on their website.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Behind the archery range at Paradise Rec center there are a couple of nests that some hawks have been occupying. No idea if they built the nests or not. I have some photos of one of them, the feathers were sort of splotched white and brown near the ends of the wings and tail, and more tawny on the rest of the body, with a whitish color to its head. It was maybe 14-16 inches tall, I didn't want to get too close to it. It was standing on a fence post watching us and just kind of hanging out.

[vintagebob]

Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is a great place to photograph birds.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-M6ZVhXf/0/225a5ad0/L/i-M6ZVhXf-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-PqPrQzh/0/74e89ff2/L/i-PqPrQzh-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9vMRs47/0/8a7ba4cf/L/i-9vMRs47-L.jpg

[J1ceasar]

First your backyard .! Then any water feature . then anyplace you see two landscapes come together I.e. edge of forest to pasture . and don't forget the Eagles and hawks that nest in light poles . lastly any bush or tree can be your next cardinal sighting. The humming birds love my hibiscus around 6pm to 7pm

[BlackhawksFan]

I know this will no doubt turn into a political discussion, but I am hoping to get a little advice before it gets locked.

I have been a casual photographer for most of my life and a professional for about 5 years.

I have never shot nature - landscapes, animals, birds, insects, etc. and I thought it would renew my passion to expand into these areas. I have added an ultra-long lense for birds and a macro lense for insects.

Now, I just need some suggestions on where to go sit and shoot here in The Villages.

I shoot a lot of birds and there are several good spots.

Fenney nature walk
Sharon Wiechens preserve by Belle Glade CC
Lake Sumter Landing
Spanish Springs pond
Paradise Park across from Spanish Springs by bridge
Freedom Pointe across from the emergency room at the hospital

Those are my go to spots there are others like
Nancy López CC
The churches on RT 466 and Morse
The pond at 466 and Morse

And you'll find others as you drive around. Bodies of water always see like good spots.

Here's my bird gallery
Birds (https://depthoffieldphoto.passgallery.com/-birds/gallery)

[Bellavita]

Venetian Gardens in Leesburg is teaming with all kinds of birds and wildlife

[ladygolfer123]

Good Luck and have fun!! You have earned it! The both of you are to be commended for your love and patience!

[starman215]

You may want to inquire about joining the villages birders club. As a member they provide a location bulletin for observing. Just google the club name. It’s 5$ yearly membership I just joined. I thought it would be a great way to be outdoors, healthy activity away from Covid, peace and quiet

[cbmerl]

I shoot a lot of birds and there are several good spots.

Fenney nature walk
Sharon Wiechens preserve by Belle Glade CC
Lake Sumter Landing
Spanish Springs pond
Paradise Park across from Spanish Springs by bridge
Freedom Pointe across from the emergency room at the hospital

Those are my go to spots there are others like
Nancy López CC
The churches on RT 466 and Morse
The pond at 466 and Morse

And you'll find others as you drive around. Bodies of water always see like good spots.

Here's my bird gallery
Birds (https://depthoffieldphoto.passgallery.com/-birds/gallery)

Beautiful..gorgeous pictures!

[Martian]

First your backyard .! Then any water feature . then anyplace you see two landscapes come together I.e. edge of forest to pasture . and don't forget the Eagles and hawks that nest in light poles . lastly any bush or tree can be your next cardinal sighting. The humming birds love my hibiscus around 6pm to 7pm

I am in a CYV so, I have about 6 feet of backyard - lol...

The other ideas are great, thanks.

[Martian]

You may want to inquire about joining the villages birders club. As a member they provide a location bulletin for observing. Just google the club name. It’s 5$ yearly membership I just joined. I thought it would be a great way to be outdoors, healthy activity away from Covid, peace and quiet

I looked at their website and it didn't appear to have been updated in a while and the next event on their calendar seemed to be in the fall.

I will take another look around and contact them, thanks.

[Martian]

Thanks everyone again.

Sharon and I took a little walk around behind Fenny Grill and found this fellow surveying the people on the trails - I guess he was making sure we were all social distancing!
https://cvws.icloud-content.com/B/AUoWbyDhlaESRR_HcfeZh_VmXlCXAW0vth4CDhP_VuifaqdAay 5_oQK8/20200717+-+Fenny+Grill+-+Pileated+Woodpecker.jpg?o=Asn5bMqpABJQXxorUdOqM21 c8qFgKci5J0fv5pzGEeUU&v=1&x=3&a=CAog0ZjJT33ktZY7vxa9FVoSzICG3IuvjWzse8-xhYxKh5USbRCOp4T-tS4Yrp67_rUuIgEAUgRmXlCXWgR_oQK8aiZijElpDFm8THENGr D9lXVMx6XW2UlbkkjqIUCdaEQAtudHs-huoHImTCCHmUTSn5M1Nssc7A86wjR26bPGY7jCmVjmryH1JSMj FpnxAv4&e=1595040255&fl=&r=4b9e878f-9b53-4b0d-ba06-f0da2e730095-1&k=Mci0stXa6Bho81dAZpbHsw&ckc=com.apple.clouddocs&ckz=com.apple.CloudDocs&p=34&s=j4ziosUPogjKYg4joFrwogquaiA&cd=i

[Gmomlaura]

I would start in your own yard. I have gotten some interesting pictures and then go out to the smaller lakes or walking paths. Good luck

[JerryLBell]

I looked at their [The Village Birders] website and it didn't appear to have been updated in a while and the next event on their calendar seemed to be in the fall.

I will take another look around and contact them, thanks.
The Village Birders meets from October to May. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it shut down earlier than usual this year. We (I'm a member and on the board) have over 200 members, hold monthly meetings and lead several bird walks each month curing the active months. Most of our walks are outside of The Villages, ranging from a few miles away to both coasts. There are a number of photographers in the club, some of whom are very good. It's a great resource for bird photographers.

I'm also a member of a much more casual club (no meetings or dues) called The Brownwood BIrders, who mostly birdwatch inside The Villages and mostly between 466A to the north and 44 to the south (though we sometimes go a bit beyond those roads). Before the pandemic shut us down, we met every week on Tuesdays, alternating between morning and afternoon walks. They keep a Facebook page, I believe.

Most of the places mentioned in this threat are good sites but you will find the pickings pretty slim this time of year. The bird population in Florida is at its lowest in the summer and at its highest in the winter. Many birds pass through in the fall and spring during migrations and a number of them make Florida their winter home. Depending on where you came from, you're likely to be amazed at the variety and number of birds that you can find here once you know where and when to look for them.

If you are on Facebook, look for postings by Villager Wendy Milstein, who takes and share a lot of great pictures. She also shares some by Villager Sam Boatman, who is a fabulous photographer.

Welcome to a frustrating hobby! We love our birds and many of us love taking pictures of them but birds will do whatever they want and few of them will stick around long to pose for us. If you can go where birds see plenty of people, you'll be amazed at how a few of them tolerate us shutterbugs so fully. For example, my wife and I were told when we moved here that we could possibly see Purple Gallinule at Venetian Gardens in nearby Leesburg. We went there hoping to see them close enough through binoculars to definitely identify them and differentiate them from Common Gallinule. A few minutes after we saw our first ones, some were practically walking over our toes. They are VERY accustomed to people there.

[Martian]

Thank you for all that information. I appreciate it. We will definitely look into it this fall. Meantime, we will just wander around and take whatever we can find - maybe some furry tailed rats.

[NonGolfer]

Hogeye Sink trail in Marsh Bend, too many bird types to name !
Is the Hogeye Sink Trail a walking trail? I live near Marsh Bend (Village of DeSoto) and when I get back to The Villages in January I would like to check it out.

[Martian]

I shoot a lot of birds and there are several good spots.

Fenney nature walk
Sharon Wiechens preserve by Belle Glade CC
Lake Sumter Landing
Spanish Springs pond
Paradise Park across from Spanish Springs by bridge
Freedom Pointe across from the emergency room at the hospital

Those are my go to spots there are others like
Nancy López CC
The churches on RT 466 and Morse
The pond at 466 and Morse

And you'll find others as you drive around. Bodies of water always see like good spots.

Here's my bird gallery
Birds (https://depthoffieldphoto.passgallery.com/-birds/gallery)

Very nice, thank you.

[Homer49]

Is the Hogeye Sink Trail a walking trail?
Yes, a very nice one - definitely check it out.

[BlackhawksFan]

Beautiful..gorgeous pictures!

Thank you

[BlackhawksFan]

Very nice, thank you.

Thanks and you're welcome