Murali Narayanan Photography

Managed by the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) Land & Water Trust, the CREW Rookery Swamp Trails in Naples, Florida, offer bird photographers an excellent opportunity to capture the diverse avian life of Southwest Florida’s wetlands. Even the parking lot provides numerous creative possibilities with minimal walking required.

The trails are a prime location for photographing wading birds such as egrets, herons, wood storks, ibis, and the elusive limpkin, while red-shouldered hawks and other raptors frequently soar overhead. Alligators basking near the water add to the dynamic subject matter. The serene environment allows for thoughtful composition, and the flat terrain makes it easy to navigate with photography gear.

All the images below were shot just after sunrise with a Nikon D7100 and 80-400VR Nikkor lens.