The Hammock Coast Bird Festival...

For a few days during the second weekend of February I was fortunate enough to be a guest presenter at the second year of this festival!
I was presenting on how to be a better bird photographer, and had three sessions which were very well attended.

Those of you that know me, know that I'm a better photographer than birder, so I was very happy that Kristina Wheeler was there during my sessions to provide the essential role of being able to name that bird! (And to take photos, too)
Thank you Kristina!! :)

The whole event was sold out, and we had the pleasure of listening to Patrick McMillan, an Emmy Award winning TV host, naturalist, and avid birder, as our keynote speaker at dinner!

I was also able to get out and do some photography while I was there and Joined Kristina on one of her outings to the Jetty at Huntington Beach State Park, as well as photographing birds along the causeway. Between us we had some great sightings!

During our walk along the jetty, we came across this very photogenic Red Breasted Merganser! We were amazed to see that she was swimming on the surface with her head just slightly under water until she saw something worth diving for!! Basically snorkeling for food :)

Of course, no trip to the jetty is complete without a Mink sighting!

Kristina had also told me that on one of her visits to the Mullet Pond that she'd seen a Sora, and a Virginia Rail, so on my morning off, I ventured out early. While I didn't see the plethora of rails some of the other attendees saw (Virginia, King, Clapper, and Sora) I did get a few glimpses of the Virginia Rail!

The photography along the causeway was pretty spectacular, too. This Hooded Merganser was particularly photogenic!

The Snowy Egrets were doing the thing they do this time of year!

There was a nice view of the White Pelicans, too.

One of my 'lifers' was this Northern Shoveler....

Overall, I really enjoyed the event and I'm looking forward to next year's, especially as it was well attended by Master Naturalists both near and far! Unbeknownst to me , when I sat at the dinner table on my last evening there, I was joining a group of 7 MNs from the Upstate Region!

In signing off, here's a beautiful sunset photo from Kristina!