The Native Floridian – Wayne Roth Photography

It was a cool 49 degree morning which was a little unseasonal for mid April but great for an airboating adventure down the Econ River and out into the St. Johns River.  The water was as smooth as glass and with all of the rain and warmer temperatures everything was green and blooming.  Perfect for some Florida Photography. 

The first surprise that came up around the first bend, nestled in a tight corner with lots of overhanging trees making it nearly impossible to maneuver the airboat for a picture, were some yellow wildflowers (never got close enough to identify them) growing out of the top of a dead cabbage palm that was mostly submerged in the dark water.  I will be going back this weekend and take a beautiful reflective picture with bright green foliage in the background.

Around every corner was something new.  There were small alligators, large alligators and even one over 10’!  Of course we picked that spot to stop the boat and take a few cast for some bass.  It seemed like there were bald eagles everywhere including some immature birds gliding along the treetops.

Painted turtles were splashing into to water off of their log perch.  Lots of soft shell turtles with their long necks and flat shell were sunning themselves in many locations.

The twists and turns of the Econ finally gave way to the cabbage palm island marking the end of the Econ and the beginning of the St. Johns River just south State Road 46.  I started heading south when something caught my eye.  It was a couple of beautiful Black-necked Stilts.  With my trusty Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera and 100-400 4.5-5.6 L Zoom lens, I stepped into the mud and water with my flops to put the Florida Cracker sneak on them.  Well, there was no sneak because we arrived via airboat, and there was not flops as I left one in each mud hole as I took my first two steps.

I was able to get a couple of good pictures of the stilts and even managed to photograph some surprise birds as I was knee deep in the mud.  A flock of Short-billed dowitchers, a Lesser Yellowlegs, and some Caspian Terns paid me a visit.  All great pictures and if it was not for the camera I would have had trouble identifying them.

All in all a gorgeous day topped off with a fly-by from an Amelia above heifer mound as the Seminole County Airboat Club assembled for a poker run.  I will be back next weekend capturing that Florida Photography.  Remember to bring the camera so you can “Preserve Your Adventure”.