Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani).
Facebook's SW Florida Bird Alert "WENT HOT" with recent reports of a Smooth-billed Ani seen at the north end of Ft Desoto Park, a barrier island in Pinellas County, Florida.
This is a tropical bird, in the cuckoo family, seen only in south Florida...and rarely in SW Florida....so the report sent us off to Ft Desoto
This multi-use park has 1,136 acres with 7 miles of beachfront....and an impressive 326 species bird list!
Here is "The Big Dog".....Liv's Nikon P900 with 83x telephoto. Great for a rare bird outing when you don't want to carry a 50lb lens and tripod.
The lead pic on this post was taken (hand held) at 428mm (that's 2000mm equivalent 35mm film), 1/500 sec, f6.5, ISO 150.
Above is a crop up taken with my Nikon D330 with 70-200mm zoom. Taken at 200mm, 1/640, f 6.3, ISO 200.
Same photo as above before the crop up. You just cannot beat "Nikon glass."
The P900 has a view finder, but here Liv uses the screen.
A couple of more Ani shots. Wonder if this one is a stray or a pioneer of a colonization?
Taken a bit closer to the bird with the Big Dog. 321mm, 1/500 sec, f 6.3, ISO 160.
152mm, 1/500 sec, f 5.6, ISO 110.
The monopod was a great idea...of course we left ours in the car!!
Always a great day at Ft Desoto....whether birding, biking, fishing, paddling, picnicking, or beaching!
Mid January! No ice, no snow....just sunshine and miles of beach.
Come on down....you just might see an Ani!
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