I am an semi-regular visitor to the monthly bird watching and photography events at STA5 (stormwater treatment are) in Hendry County.  These events would not exist without the help of the Hendry/Glades Audubon Society.  The opportunities provided to birdwatch and take photographs at STA5 are extremely abundant.  With that said, I was fortunate enough to have the chance to photograph a White Tailed Kite December 2011 on my last visit to STA5.  I shared my images with the Hendry/Glades Audubon Society and they in turn published the images in their quarterly newsletter.  I thought I would in turn share the newsletter with you.

It has been a long time since I have camped and even longer since I have been to Everglades National Park. To be exact, the last time I was in Everglades National Park was New Year's 2010.  What an amazing park, it deserves at least one trip a year. Here is a link to Everglades NP if you would like to learn more. 

I camped at the secluded and forested Long Pine Key Campground and experienced outstanding weather.  The slash pine habitat there is the most endangered pine habitats in the country. 

There is something special about being in nature and something extra special about waking up to the songs of birds and going to bed to the sounds of crickets and frogs. When I am able, as on this trip, I use a tent without a rainfly and sleep under the stars. Since it has been some time since I have camped there was a sense of nostalgia, and I reminisced about my past experiences camping in Africa and South America. Camping brought back memories and reminded me how much I really enjoy being and living outside day in and day out.  

Some highlights of the Everglades trip were the Great White Blue Heron, Kestrel, Roseate Spoonbill, and Snail Kite. The best places (most intimate) I enjoyed photographing were Anhinga Trail and Mazrek Pond.  I was able to get up-close and personal with the wildlife.  Most times it is very hard to approach wildlife and not spook them but these two locations boded well.  

I also like to get off the beaten path.  As I alluded to earlier some of the best places in Everglades NP are the marked stops and the most visited but I still crave the adventure of finding my own unique shots.  This is one of the main things I love about Everglades NP.  There are few restrictions where you can travel, and also equally important, no time constraints. Normally, when you are in a park you have to stay on the designated trails, and then observe opening and closing times.  Everglades NP is an anomaly in that the park rangers encourage hiking through the boggy swamp, taking night walks, and an overall sense of adventure.  It is very special to be able to jump in the swamp day or night and walk your own path.  This combines well with my sense of adventure.

Another great sighting the was Vermillion Flycatcher. Now this was one flash little dude.  He had some personality to him. If you ever want to see this little guy he is located at Pump Station C-111 on 9336 about one mile before the park entrance.  There is a bridge where the pump station is located and the Vermillion Flycatcher hangs out around a group of Gumbo limbo trees, power lines, and large yellow gate at a small turnoff at the pump station C-111.  If you want even more specific info I will be happy explain further.

All and all a trip to Everglades National Park was a great way to bring in the New Year.  I would not trade my time there for anything else in the world.  On the way back to Naples driving through Homestead I stopped a the intersection of 200th Street and Krome Avenue.  There is a little restaurant located in the gas station that has great latin food.  For $7.50 you get an amazing food and secondly an amazing amount of it. Thinking of food here was my New Years Eve dinner.

This short documentary video by myself shot December 14, 2011. Fisheries Biologist Pat O'Donnell monitors sharks 3 times a month in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine. I volunteered through Rookery Bay and assisted in the process of attempting to catch sharks for research purposes. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in catching sharks this night. Footage was shot with with a Canon 7D body and 15-85mm lens. Sound was recorded with a Rode Microphone. Shot on location in the Fakahatchee Bay, Rookery Bay National Marine Estuarine, Florida.

November 2011-

Fellow photographer, naturalist and good friend, Jim Vanas, first introduced me to Las Brisas Nature Reserve in 2008.  Jim had met Erick, the owner of Las Brisas Nature Reserve, some years prior and wanted to introduce us.  At that time, I had been intermittently living in Costa Rica for three years.  I was familiar with the general flora and fauna of Costa Rica, but Las Brisas Nature Reserve brought my level of appreciation and learning for the natural world to a whole new level.  To this day, after living near the Las Brisas Nature Reserve for a total of six months in the past four years, I am not only in awe but also simply astounded by the evolution of the reserve. 

My photographic experiences at Las Brisas Nature Reserve have been nothing short of amazing. I am from Naples, Florida, and almost every time I venture into the swamp (The Florida Everglades), I encounter a unique experience. The same can be said for Las Brisas Nature Reserve, but there is one key practical difference between the two and many other hard to get to places in the world like The Florida Everglades, and that is accessibility. The accessibility to Las Brisas Nature Reserve is one of the biggest draws for me to return time and time again.  The last two years, I have rented the same villa not even 100 meters from Las Brisas Nature Reserve. I do not need to drive an hour (if not more) and then walk an hour to arrive at my destination.  From my own front door, I am where I want to be within a 10-minute walk and I am introduced to a side of nature that is almost un-comparable.

I have two favorite times of day for photography at Las Brisas Nature Reserve. The first is to wake up at the crack of dawn and experience the warm ambient morning light and the rebirth of the new day with all the birds and other creatures.  I find the morning light warmer and lasts longer than the afternoon light does.  There are two primary reasons for this; first, the mornings are less cloudy than the afternoons, and secondly, the hills block the afternoon light as the sun sets, thus cutting the light short.  My second favorite time of day to photograph is at nighttime.  Las Brisas Nature Reserve has single-handedly been responsible for my love of macro photography. Each and every subject seems to stand out at night and the intimacy with the subject in regards to macro photography is something beyond comparison to other photographic disciplines.

The wildlife at Las Brisas Nature Reserve is absolutely special. There are over 400 species of birds and a diverse population of insects, frogs, snakes, and mammals. This is where the relationship between Las Brisas Nature Reserve and the people who care for it are so important.  Erick, Santos, Juan, Felipe, Donald and many others have spent countless hours walking the trails and learning about flora and fauna. I have been fortunate to experience Las Brisas Nature Preserve with the assistance of their knowledge. If you get the opportunity to visit and spend time with one or more of the people whom are familiar with Las Brisas Nature Preserve, it is a privilege.

In conclusion, the photographic opportunities, day and night, are endless (literally) and the experience is one you will remember for a lifetime.  If you have read this far, then maybe I will see you at Las Brisas Nature Reserve one day soon.

Feel free to contact me-
Josh Manring
Adventure/Documentary Photographer
Naturalist
US. 941-405-3130
CR. 506-8779-3514
Journeymangallery.com
Journeymangallery@gmail.com