As the breeding season goes on I find myself taking less photographs that are directed only at the birds. Instead I’m considering the surroundings even more than usual.
Probably once settled down from the flying frenzy around me I worry less about missing the shot. Most likely there will be a second chance.
I caught this Egret just coming in for a landing near the nest. If you catch the wings and feathers right this can make for an interesting image.
Click any image below to view the gallery.
There was some really good nest stuff here, and he was staying to get it. The Anhinga was gathering Spanish Moss very near me.
I didn’t want any, he did. A good arrangement for this close up. I took the shot, he took the moss.
I caught this Egret moving away, low on the water. It was not the angle I prefer, and she could have been lower.
But really, it’s an Egret on the water. I’ll take this one.
This was shot a little slower, 1/640, than I would have liked. Faster and I might have gotten just a bit more clarity in the reflection.
The main reason people don’t see them is they are not really looking. A typical day out photographing and at least once someone will ask if we have seen any alligators.
Many times we can just point (we don’t it would make us rude, but we could).
They’re not looking to do a person harm, nobody gets eaten, they just are there. Floating around looking like ‘swampy stuff’.
The image above is a good example. In the shade, covered with ‘stuff’, and just doing nothing. They blend in, which is why they are still here after millions of years.
Not all nests in the rookery have young, or even eggs. Some adults seem to be finished building, but now waiting. On eggs, a new mate, could be anything.
This is what they do…nap.
Great Blue Heron Napping – Click To Enlarge
A good chance I have walked by them 100’s of times. The freeze in place like a rock. And are invisible.
Look away, maybe change a setting or peep at the screen, gone.
This is probably only the third time I have seen one. Most in the same spot. Hidden away from the swamp/marsh but still in a wet lowlands.
I don’t know how they move with that beak. Almost as long as the rest of their body.
These birds are half the size of most other herons, but they are very fast flyers. I was able to catch them in flight because they gave me so many chances. The small flock was chasing each other continuously.
It turns out even though small they are fiercesome predators and don’t even get along with members of their own flocks. Must be true I found it on the internet.
After photographing them, about 150 images, I finally had these four. And the one below of one catching his breath.
