I have deliberately posted this picture of a Ruddy Turnstone that I took yesterday in Devon, UK because I am about to depart back to Florida for what I expect, is going to be another great trip. I have been to Florida at least 15 times, probably more – I have stopped counting – and I know that there will be some amazing photo opportunities. Florida is just a great place for bird photography because the light is so superb and there are just so many birds to take pictures of. The weather forecast for there isn't brilliant but that will probably be an advantage because sometimes during the middle of the day the sun can be so bright that it can cause harsh shadows. So why the Turnstone? Well I know that I will see and photograph them in Florida which used to be a surprise to me but I am used to seeing them regularly there now. It will be interesting to compare photographs of the species taken nearly 4000 miles apart. The ones in Florida are over wintering having bred in Northern Canada and the ones in the UK are wintering having bred in Northern Europe of course. One feature that they have in common is their disregard for humans, I have find them on both continents to be one of the most approachable of species. For example, yesterday I hadn't realised, as I ate a quick snack that I had dropped a few crumbs of corned beef and it was fascinating to see how gratefully received this was as it picked the dropped food from beneath my feet.


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