Dull light always seems to bring out the best color and contrast photos for me. This little bird helped reinforce it. I’m not known for my ‘little bird’ skills 😝.
He sat down off to my right, gave me a pose or two, and flew off when his job was down. No fuss no muss.
These two were standing quiet, just preening. I had hoped for a mating dance but finally gave up.
Even after pairing up Great Egrets will still display for a while. Eventually gathering sticks, and then feeding young takes over (😁).
I haven’t been around the local plantation gardens or main buildings lately. It’s almost spring looking in some parts of the swamps so my guess is the blooms around big gardens must be about ready.
Below were taken along the edge of the swamps here. Some color that couldn’t be passed up.
I think we have some mid 30’ish degree mornings coming, the native flowers should be OK… I hope.
I think this was a place where the adult Spoonbill went to rest and get away from the chaos of the rookery. In this shot there is only a single bird, other times during the day small groups could be seen. A little different look here.
Roosting Roseate Spoonbill.
The Common Gallinule is just that, a common marsh bird.
However, they scream like a banshee, can walk on water, and have a vibrant red/yellow plastic looking nose. That’s anything but common.
Best viewed large.
There are places along the eastern coast of Florida, the inland marshes, that have taken two different types of damage. The changes in some places is profound.
First was a deep frost. The tops of the iconic mangroves froze, now they are dead and brown. This changes the color of the entire landscape.
Along with the frost is a long drought. It’s been going for a while since much of the land which had been underwater is now cracked and hard.
The water and mangroves have always returned. Still you have to wonder what it will look like next.
Merritt Island WMR, Florida.
At the far end of this swamp is thick wooded wetlands that is the border between two old plantations. No trails there and not a place to wander. I’ve seen many birds go in and make an immediate U turn back into this swamp.
The morning started out foggy and gave some great photographs.
Some things were hidden too though. If the sun hadn’t been low over the swamp and streamed through duck weed I would never have noticed them.
The first two images I leaned over the edge to get some branches to frame the big guy. I could see the sun in his eye so I grabbed these quick. In the shadows but some nice drama.
Next one I spotted I just went for the shape. He was buried in the thick weed.
American Alligator in a swamp filled with dick weed.
