I take no credit for finding this little guy. I could hear Ellen shooting off to my left and I had to see what she doing.
Phoebe In Brush
Phoebe In Brush
Phoebe In Brush
Phoebe In Brush
All posts by Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography
Heron In A Marsh
A simple shot of a Great Blue in a marsh. No drama, heck I couldn’t even think of a title here.
Classic Great Blue, that’s it.
Great Egret In A Marsh
Photographed in an old rice field. Egret strolling right down the middle.
A Treasure, Heron
A Great Blue heading back to the nest with a treasure.
Sharing Space
I made a joke about sharing space with a Great Blue, how big they were, and their sharp bill, in a recently article.
Well here is real sharing space.
This Heron flew down from a nest and I must have been blocked from view by a tree. I was too close to focus and stepped back for these. Of course he saw me but by then he was focused on a prize stick.
Got it!
Actually there were several so he came back a few times.
Always At Dusk
The same time every day. Around 4:30 PM the males who have a mate return from the marsh. They bring nesting sticks, an offering for being gone so long I think.
She stands to greet him, sometimes calling out a hoarse greeting.
At this time of year the sun is just dropping below the tree line. Light gets better soon, but one side of the swamp with many nests is too dark to shot.
The female may now leave the nest to hunt, or send the male back out for more materials. For the next hour the male may retrieve materials from all around the area.
Photographers look out ! When a male is in the frantic search he may not see us and at times you end up sharing the same space. And remember… almost as tall as a person and have a very long sharp bill. They get the right of way LOL.
Thanks To The Heron
Just a pretty shot that a Great Blue Heron handed to me.
I could not have asked for better light or angle. The feather details were completely on display.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
OK – Now I Wait, Great Egret
I missed the actual catch. Not by much, you can see the ripples in the water. But I was just not ready, and in a fraction of a second he had the fish.
It might have been a Catfish, and this one was not giving up.
If the fish has sharp gills the Egret will not eat it while it still moves. That seems like a good idea.
The problem is other things will want his fish too.
He kept watching for a thief and finally made the move to eat it.
Not a moment too soon, the ultimate fish thief was heading over.
I could see the Alligator swimming over and tried to keep an angle that might allow me to get both in the same frame.
The Egret was having none of it. He managed to eat and fly at the same time. The Gator never got close enough for that shot.
