Morning At The Marsh
To start things off today I thought y’all might enjoy an overall wide view of the marsh pond courtesy of the 8mm fisheye lens. If you look carefully in the lower right corner in the reflected water, you can see Mr. You Know Who slowly gliding along.
What started out looking slow with not much happening eventually turned into a busy morning at the marsh pond. An alligator and tricolored heron both seemed to be concentrating on feeding in the same area. The alligator simply ignored the plucky little tri as the bird waded by searching for small fish. An anhinga pulled a double skewer move on this fish that it popped up with along the side of the pond. A young gator was stirring up the dark water in a small well concealed corner area we call “baby cove” because several small gators live and feed there… wisely staying out of the way of the bigger boys!
A great blue heron appeared to be on an important mission as it flew across the tree line. A little blue heron was also spotted fishing for minnows in among the pond weeds in the shallow water. And we were very excited to see the first of the summer appearance by a roseate spoonbill! These pink birds never fail to create a buzz and often draw a crowd whenever they stop by our marsh area for a welcome visit. Although this one was flying quite a distance off at the back edge of the pond I had to include a photo of it since I look forward to seeing a spoonie every year!
Alligator and Tricolored Heron
Anhinga
Young Alligator
Great Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Roseate Spoonbill
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Glorious shots!!! Especially Anhinga shots is fabulous!!!
Hey thanks I’m happy you enjoyed the pics!
I quite understand that you had to include the spoonbill 🙂 The photo that stands out among these for me is Anhinga :). This is the only place where I will see gators, spoonbills and herons so I am grateful to you Phil…. Thrilling captures, and a nice touch with fisheye 🙂
Well thanks a million for your very kind comments Paula and I am thrilled that you enjoy the photos so much!
Nice to know you liked the spoonie even though it was far off but yes, I did have to include it because we wait all year for one (or even better some) to show up. We hope this one stays and brings in friends.
Glad you liked the fisheye pic too. 🙂
A wonderful start to my (online!) day! Thanks for more great photos and commentary Phil.
Well I’m glad this was a good start for your day Deb, thanks!
Wonderful images as usual Phil but I particularly like the fisheye view and love the reflection in the last image of the Spoonbill.
That’s great Edith I’m very happy you enjoyed these photos and were excited like me to see the spoonie.
Love the fish-eye view of your stomping ground, Phil. Wonderful pics again, and I especially love the pink spoonbill and of course the fabulous anhinga shot. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed that fish eye view of the marsh Sylvia and I’m really hoping the pink spoonie brings in some friends! That anhinga means business too. 🙂
the fish eye is amazing – although I wonder how many times it gets used? (talking value for money terms) – The Anhinga shot is awesome – the fish speared and the bird looks like it just broke the surface- stunning
Thanks for checking these out Scott and I’m glad you like the pics. The fisheye lens has to be used sparingly but it cost me very little and I have lenses I paid a lot more for (28-70 2.8 for instance) that I rarely use but like knowing it’s available.
The anhinga is a deadly hunter despite appearing kind of goofy on land.
Well you know this girl is going to swoon over the pink flamingo and the beautiful reflection you captured.
I greatly appreciate your kind comments and good to know you love the pink spoonie!
All great shots but that fish eye is pretty cool. It’s amazing how close those wading birds get to the gators.
I was happy with how the fisheye view came out this time. I don’t use it often but it’s fun to have around.
The alligators often totally ignore the small waders and I guess the birds know what they are doing.
Amazing images! The Roseate spoonbill is so pretty!
Thanks very much Amy, that spoonie was very far off and this is really only a documentation photo but I was thrilled to see it!
Just simply stunning Phil! The shot of the anhinga is a real winner!
Thanks a bunch Adrian, I’m very happy you enjoyed these photos and especially liked the anhinga! That along with the skimmers is my favorite bird action to see and photograph.
Phil, you’re our very own Paul Revere of the Marsh! “The spoonbills are here! The spoonbills are here!”
I believe it came in last night with some wood storks and we are really hoping it brought some friends!
Well I’m glad I could sound the alarm about our spoonie!
So many beautiful birds in the marsh where you shoot. They make the gators look so homely. Sorry big guys, but the birds have it all over you in looks.
What?!? The gators are homely?!? 😯 Uh oh, I better not let them hear that comment. They are very sensitive and get easily hurt feelings and we wouldn’t want that would we?! 😀
Thanks so much for checking out these photos!
That poor fish got stuck on some very sharp knitting needles. Seriously, love all your pics, but the first one of the sky is pretty awesome! You always have an unreal amount of detail to your work.
Thanks a million I truly appreciate your very kind comments and I happy you enjoyed these photos!
Lots of nice images for the morning, Phil. Each one is an enjoyable experience.. Spoonie seems in a bit of a hurry.
Thanks Steve, I’m glad you enjoyed these. Funny about that spoonie, just seconds before he took off he was sound asleep with his big goofy bill tucked behind his head and under his wing. Suddenly he woke up, pointed that bill straight up (which they often do) and lifted off in a huge hurry! Don’t know what the big emergency was because all he did was land in a tree across the pond.
Love that fish-eye, Phil! It looks like that Little-Blue Heron was closer than usual
Glad you liked that fisheye look Gareth, I don’t pull it out often but occasionally it comes in handy.
Yes the LBH was in fairly close but then a loud noise chased him off and that was the end of that.
That fisheye is great, though it almost makes me a little dizzy. Very nice welcome shot of the spoonie, but they’re all simply fantastic.
I’m happy you enjoyed that fisheye view Gunta, I don’t use it often but sometimes it works out nicely.
That spoonie was mostly just a documentation photo to show he was there because I wait all year for one or more to show up and I’m always excited so I have to grab those first of the season shots even if the bird is farther off then I would prefer.
You’re just too spoiled! I would (almost) kill for a shot like that with my skittish migrants… or perhaps have a longer lens maybe? I didn’t see anything wrong with that spoonie, though there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing much better versions soon! Happy hunting.
Wonderful shots again Phil.
Thanks very much Jan I’m happy you enjoyed them.
What a brilliant story in pictures, Phil! Such wonderful bird life – as you know, I do love the herons but my favourite here is the gorgeous spoonbill and the lovely reflection in the water. Two for the price of one!
Thanks very much Maggie, great to hear you enjoyed these photos and especially my goofy pink friend who I hope provides closer photo ops and brings in some friends. 😀
Mr. I Know Who misses really nothing! 😛
So true! Even when he looks like he is not paying attention he always knows what’s going on! 🙂
Was there an invite to a wildlife party I didn’t get?! Fabulous shots, as expected!
Oh no! You didn’t get the invite?! There was an open bar! Turns out alligators love piña coladas. Who knew?
Of course they did eat one of the guests which could be considered rude I suppose.
Well in that case, I guess I’m glad my invite got lost in the mail!
No you would have had a good time! The alligators know to leave my friends alone. I’m the best PR agent they got and they want to keep me happy. They have however been known to get juuuust a bit frisky though after they had a few.
Frisky after a few? I expect nothing less from the gators.
They’re not the only ones.