Yesterday was day 1 of the 10th annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival and it was a great day with the chance to renew old acquaintances, make some new ones, and visit with old friends - in between my leading a field workshop that began at 6 a.m., setting up my booth, and a 3-hour "Image Editing for Digital Photographers" class I taught in the afternoon. The only one who seems to be a bit put off is Roxie who hasn't had to put up with me being gone for such long periods since before we set out on the road. While the morning was pretty gray the group had the opportunity to shoot on of the largest flocks of Roseate Spoonbills I have ever seen out on Blackpoint Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. I brought my gear along but, since teaching about photography was my real purpose, I didn't bring it out until just before the end of the session when a couple of the participants found a Clapper Rail out in the open. Since there is no accompanying photo, it goes without saying that I never got a shot - as soon as I got back it flew off toward cover in the surrounding mangroves.

The remaining days will be a little less hectic with only one "event" scheduled per day (field workshops tomorrow and Sunday, 1 IE4DP class today, and a presentation on Saturday). This festival is one of the largest - if not the largest - of its kind in the country and this is my sixth consecutive year as a participant and always have a great time.