Here’s a fun bird I tried so hard to capture last year and finally got a good shot of this January, a Belted Kingfisher!! As their name suggests, they are great fishers, flying along waterways and diving for fish once spotted! Their calls are distinctive once you learn them but they fly so fast it can be hard (for me) to get good pictures of them unless they are perching 😂😅💙 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 400 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022, Lightroom, Instagram . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #beltedkingfisher #kingfishers #beltedkingfishersofinstagram #kingfishersofinstagram #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2023 #FloridaBirds #Birding #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #on1pics #lightroom #lightroomedits (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqVqfc6L8UC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Just some pals hanging out at St. Marks NWR on a sunny afternoon 🐊🐢🐢😅 Jan 2023 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 2500 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022, Instagram . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #floridanature #naturephotography #floridaalligator #alligator #turtle #reptilesofinstagram #on1pics (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQ9oN6L0uV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Not a new bird for me, but another decent shot of a favorite, a Bald Eagle! 🦅🦅🦅 St. Marks NWR, Jan 2023 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 200 Aperture: f5.6 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022, Instagram . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #BaldEagle #eaglesofinstagram #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdsseenin2023 #floridabirding #floridanature #naturephotography #on1pics #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLQQAfsQV6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A Reddish Egret and a Great Egret sharing the shot! Taken at St. Marks NWR in January ❤️🤍 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 250 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #reddishegret #greategret #egretsofinstagram #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #floridabirds #birdsseenin2023 #birding #naturephotography #floridanature #stmarksnwr #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #on1pics (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGEaLFLFfu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Here’s the male counterpart to the Northern Shoveler I posted last week! Such a handsome lad! . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 250 Aperture: f4.5 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #northernshoveler #ducksofinstagram #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdsseenin2023 #floridabirds #floridabirding #naturephotography #floridanature #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #stmarksnwrphotoclub #on1pics (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpksJCUL787/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Female Boat-tailed grackles are much duller in color than the males which have a darker iridescent color (I posted one last year if you want to see!). In a lot of birds, the female will often be less colorful to help with camouflage! This particular female boat-tailed grackle was hanging out cautiously near me at St. Marks NWR before it flew off over the grasses! . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 500 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022, Instagram . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #boattailedgrackle #femalebirds #birdsofinstagram #birdsinflight #floridabirding #floridabirds #floridanature #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #birdsseenin2023 #birdphotography #on1pics (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpiLR9kLSIR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Celebrating #worldwildlifeday with a pretty recognizable bird, the Bald Eagle! There were a lot of Bald Eagles around St. Marks NWR during my last trip in January! I was so excited to get some better shots of them soaring around! Look at that wingspan!! 🦅🦅🦅 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 200 Aperture: f5 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #wildlifephotography #eaglesofinstagram #Eagle #eagles #birdsofinstagram #FloridaBirds #FloridaBirding #birdsseenin2023 #birdsinflight #FloridaNature #naturephotography #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #on1pics (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVSOewLG4F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🎶Shake a tail feather!🎶 I captured this Female Northern Shoveler shaking her tail feathers at some American Coots (see the second picture) at the St. Marks NWR Lighthouse pool in January 😂💃🎶 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 250 Aperture: f4.5 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #ducksofinstagram #northernshoveler #femaleduck #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #FloridaBirding #FloridaBirds #BirdsSeenIn2023 #naturephotography #on1pics #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpSq-QKLVOp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This months phone wallpapers are up, featuring a small blue/purpleish flower from the Woodland Lettuce plant! Usually considered a weed found from Florida to Canada, this macro shot shows off the pretty little flowers most people wouldn't usually notice! 💙 Links for free phone wallpapers in bio✨🌸 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 1600 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/1250s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #woodlandlettuce #wildflowers #weedsareflowerstoo #flowersofinstagram #plantsofinstagram #macro #macrophotography #olympusmacro #on1pics #flowers (at Alabama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpQbKVSvo_K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Fast forwarding from August 2022 to January 2023 starting with this male Red-winged Blackbird (very creative naming lol). These birds can be found pretty much all over the US, especially around marshes and wetland areas! ❤️🧡 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 200 Aperture: f4.5 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022, Instagram . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #redwingedblackbird #blackbirds #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdsseenin2023 #floridabirds #floridabirding #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #on1pics (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co5JOaiLV-F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Not a new bird for me, but I just had to share this picturesque scene of a Great Egret hunting at Wakulla Springs State Park. 🤍💚 And with this picture I am finally done (for now….) with pictures from my August 2022 trip to St. Marks and Wakulla Springs! 😁 Now I’ve got to catch up on all the pictures I took last September/October/November/December 😅😂 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 320 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/1000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #GreatEgret #greategretsofinstagram #egretsofinstagram #Birding #FloridaBirds #FloridaBirding #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #naturephotography #floridanature #wakullasprings #wakullaspringsstatepark #on1pics (at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoxM0pJrSkg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A Little Blue Heron enjoying the scenic Wakulla Springs State Park 💙 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 320 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/1000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #littleblueheron #heronsofinstagram #floridabirds #floridabirding #birdsseenin2022 #birdphotography #birdsofinstagram #naturephotography #floridanature #wakullasprings #wakullaspringsstatepark #on1pics (at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CosK5x0LdfA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Posting a couple of cool landscape scenes I took at Wakulla Springs State Park last August! I know I’ve already gushed about it, but as someone who loves and is fascinated by nature (and getting pictures of it) Wakulla Springs quickly became one of my new favorite spots to visit! I hope I get to visit it many more times in the future! 🌿🌿🌿 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 200, 800 Aperture: f5, f4 Speed: 1/1000s, 1/1600s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #wakullasprings #edwardballwakullaspringsstatepark #wakullaspringsstatepark #floridanature #floridanaturephotography #naturephotography #floridastateparks #cypresstrees #wakullariver #wakullariverboattour #on1pics (at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Com_RKUrw1W/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Cross Stitch update! It’s been a while since I’ve posted any cross stitching but I’ve actually done a decent amount lately! I was secretly working on a pretty large beach themed one for my parents! I finished it before Christmas but had to wait until January to give it to them. I loved working on it so much with all the bright colors and shapes 💕😁 The pattern is “On The Beach” by @stitchrovia 💕 Now I’m back to working on The Wheel of Time one for Dustin! Swipe to the end to see how far I’ve gotten! Hopefully I can finish it in the next couple of months because I have a lot of other projects I’d like to do this year 😂😄 WoT pattern is “The Wheel of Time” by FantasyStitcher (both patterns can be found on etsy!) 🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡🧵🪡 . . . #crossstitch #crossstitchersofinstagram #crossstitching #stitchrovia #onthebeach #wheeloftime #FantasyStitcher #crossstitchlovers #crossstitcher (at Alabama) https://www.instagram.com/p/CofarI3rNJo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I *think* this cool bird is a Greater Yellowlegs! It can be quite difficult to distinguish from Lesser Yellowlegs and Greater Yellowlegs unless they are right next to each other, but one slight difference is Greaters have an ever so slightly longer and more upturned bill! As the name says, they can be identified from other similar shorebirds by their bright yellow legs! 💛😂 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 1600 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #greateryellowlegs #Yellowlegs #shorebirdsofinstagram #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #floridabirding #floridabirds #birdsseenin2022 #naturephotography #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #on1pics (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/Coc7ZTzLena/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Last Black Skimmer photo for now, I was pretty impressed with myself that I actually captured one in the skimming process! They use their large lower bill to skim under the water’s surface until they hit some food and then snap it back up to eat! 😮 . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 1000 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/2000s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #BlackSkimmer #Skimmers #Birding #FloridaBirds #FloridaBirding #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #BirdsSeenIn2022 #naturephotography #on1pics #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoNEiTyL9lZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A few Black Skimmers showing of their graceful dancing to an audience of many other birds and a few humans last August at the Lighthouse Pool, St. Marks NWR 💕 I could watch them all day! . . . Camera: Olympus E-M5Markii Lens: 40-150mm pro f2.8 Teleconverter: 1.4x (56-210mm) ISO: 1000 Aperture: f4 Speed: 1/1600s Edited: ON1 Photo Raw 2022 & Instagram Filter . . . #BreakFreeWithOlympus #GetOlympus #olympusphotography #mzuiko #omsystem #olympusem5mkii #olympus40150pro #blackskimmer #birding #floridabirds #floridabirding #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #stmarksnationalwildliferefuge #stmarksnwr #floridanature #naturephotography #on1pics #BirdsSeenIn2022 (at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoKlDnVrmm9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=