Bushman Park
Bushman Park in Port Orange is a hidden gem that offers a blend of outdoor beauty and recreational opportunities. This well-maintained park is equipped with walking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds, making it an ideal destination for families and nature enthusiasts alike. The lush greenery and diverse wildlife provide ample opportunities for photography, particularly during the “golden hour” (just after sunrise or just before sunset) when the sunlight casts a warm glow across the landscape.
When I first arrived, I met a local resident who actually grew up on the property back in the 1960s. He had a wealth of information and was more than willing to share it with me. I learned so much about what the area was like back then that I will never visit there again without picturing what this land looked like in the past. An old cabin with a wide variety of barnyard animals, a pond where a stand of palm trees now stands, the wildlife that was prolific on the grounds and more. What a pleasure to be privy to a glance back into the past at one of my favorite birding sites in this area.
The birds were singing, but the foliage was so thick that it was difficult to isolate individuals for a decent shot. Yellow-throated warblers, Gray catbirds, many Carolina wrens, Northern parulas, and more were all heard clearly, but the only bird that came out into the open was one of a myriad of Northern cardinals heard during my walk. This female was constantly calling in response to another cardinal (presumably male). In many species, singing is limited primarily to the male, but cardinals make their own rules and females will sing to communicate, defend territory, and to reinforce pair bonds.
Peninsular cooter - Nikon Z8 with Nikon Z100-400 @ 400mm 1/800 sec, f/16, ISO 2200
While the birds were a bit tough to photograph, there was plenty of other wildlife to occupy my time. The Peninsular cooter in the shot above seemed anxious to have its pic taken and swam right over to me as I stood on the fishing pier above the pond. The crystal clear water allowed me to photograph the entire shell and legs with nice clarity. The Peninsular cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis) is a freshwater turtle native to the southeastern United States, primarily found in Florida. Known for its striking patterned shell, which features intricate yellow and black markings, this species typically inhabits rivers, ponds, and swamps, favoring areas with abundant aquatic vegetation. Adult Peninsular cooters can reach a carapace length of up to 12 inches, and they are herbivorous, primarily feeding on aquatic plants, algae, and some fruits. These turtles play a vital role in their ecosystems by contributing to plant growth and serving as prey for various predators. Conservation efforts are essential, as their habitat is increasingly threatened by urban development and pollution.
Spring is a great time to find and photograph butterflies as well as birds. As spring blossoms are emerging from the plants along roadsides, lawns, and trails, many opportunities are afforded to get some images of some of nature’s most beautiful creatures. The butterfly above is a White peacock, another species found primarily in the southeastern United States, Central and South America. Surprisingly, these butterflies can make it as far north as New Jersey during the summer months. They prefer disturbed areas such as ditches (where this one was found), canals, pond edges, roadsides, and other low-lying weedy areas.
Another butterfly which we do find commonly in the northern US is the Monarch. The monarch butterfly, known for its striking orange and black patterns, is one of the most recognizable insects in North America. These butterflies are renowned for their incredible migration journey, traveling thousands of miles from Canada and the United States to central Mexico each year. As they make this journey, they face numerous challenges, including habitat loss and climate change, which threaten their populations. Monarchs play a vital role in ecosystems, serving as pollinators for various plants. Their life cycle encompasses four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult, with each stage showcasing remarkable transformations that highlight the complexities of nature.
And finally, I have to include the obligatory shot of the Brown anole. This little lizard is so common in the state that he can be found on virtually every walk through the Sunshine state’s woodlands. When threatened, these reptiles will display a red flap of skin that extends down from the throat. Apparently, this guy was not intimadated by my presence and did not feel it necessary to present this warning to me.
Tech Tip - Look carefully at the photograph of the turtle above and you will notice two things….First, the “depth of field”. Depth of field refers to how much of the image is in focus, is sharp. By using a small aperture, in this case f/16, you can increase the amount of the image that is sharp. The smaller the aperture (higher f-stop numbers) the more sharp the image will be from front to back. If I had used a larger aperture (f/2.8 for example), I could take pictures in darker conditions, but the turtle’s head might be in focus while the back part of the shell would be blurry.
The second neat little trick with using high apertures of f/16 or higher, you can achieve a nice photographic effect called a “starburst”. As a general rule, the smaller the aperture (the higher numbers), the more pronounced the starburst will be. Note the attractive starburst effect off the water in front of our turtle which I achieved by shooting at an aperture of f/16.
