Phil Lanoue Photography
I previously worked as a news and sports photographer. Recently I have been enjoying wildlife photography. My approach toward bird photos is similar to sports photography. I attempt to capture mostly action and hopefully a unique perspective.
Mister Cool
Alligator season is winding down here along our marsh and most have begun to tuck themselves away as the weather gets cooler. But yesterday late afternoon, who do I see lounging in the soft weeds at the edge of the pond?!? Why of course it’s out old pal Mr. A making a November personal appearance!
He was all settled in when I first spotted him and was looking cool and casual as usual, but about an hour later he decided to slide into the water and patrol the area along the pond’s edge. As the evening got later and the sun began to set, you can see the water developing just a tinge of pink in the third photo. That would ultimately turn red and provide a warm and colorful sunset over the marsh pond. At this point I was hoping Mr. Cool would glide on over into the red and gold water because he always looks so good lit that way, but he choose to remain close by me there the edge of the pond as I took the sunset photo.
And yes there were still two spoonbills that showed up in the salt marsh around this time and I do have photos of them but I thought it prudent and appropriate to give Mr. A some well deserved screen time today. Look for more photos of our goofy pink friends in the next day or so. 🙂
“I Thought The Fish Here Were Fresh!”
Yesterday afternoon I was watching this great blue heron fishing in the salt marsh. I saw him strike at the water a few times and come up empty, but finally he caught himself a nice fish. At least it looked like a nice fresh fish to me, but not sure how the heron felt about it.
Soon after swallowing that fish he walked back to the edge of the water and tucked himself back into the reeds. He then fluffed himself up in an odd way and had a strange look on his face. So maybe the fish didn’t go down so well, and was possibly causing a bit of indigestion? I’m not sure, but I also could not figure out what he was looking at in that last photo…perhaps help and guidance from above? 🙂
Who’s Fish Is It Anyway?!
Yesterday afternoon I saw this osprey flying across the salt with a small fish he had just plucked out of the water. Almost instantly the osprey was jumped by a bald eagle that had been sitting in a nearby tree waiting for exactly this situation to present itself. The osprey really wanted his fish, he caught it, he assumed he owned it. So the osprey did everything it could to escape the marauding eagle. It began flying evasive maneuvers that would put any modern jet fighter to shame, but still the eagle kept up with him.
At one point the osprey appeared to be successful in shaking off the attacker, but that eagle was determined. It did one tight swoop back around and finally succeeded in getting the osprey to drop it’s prize. After grabbing up it’s plundered fish, the eagle took it into a nearby tree where by the time I made my way over the fish was down the hatch and gone.
It seems to me that the eagle could easily catch it’s own fish with likely half the effort it takes to chase around an osprey. But such is the nature of the bald eagle who is often quite happy to let another bird do the work, plus I think the eagle truly enjoys the thrill of the chase!
“Here Comes My Friend!”
Yesterday afternoon there was one lone spoonbill fishing in the salt marsh during low tide. He was not alone the entire time, there were several white ibis, snowy and great egrets, and great blue herons around to play with, but no other spoonbills…
Then finally after about 2 hours another spoonbill showed up, gliding low over the oyster beds and landing near his pal. I thought the first spoonie would act little more excited to see his friend arrive, but I’m sure he was happy to see a familiar pink face! 🙂
Great Blue Heron at Sunset
A Great Blue Heron in the marsh pond last night silhouetted by warm setting sunlight…
November Spoonbills
Every day we don’t see any spoonbills out in the marsh we wonder if they have finally left the area for the season. Last year they departed early and I never saw one spoonie past Sept. 1st. We have been very fortunate this summer that some were around fairly reliably all through Sept. and even Oct. But the question remained… would any stick around into November.
We were thrilled last night to find that question answered when first two, then a third spoonie showed up in the salt marsh during low tide! So we can officially say we had spoonbills into November.
Here are a few shots of them as they went about their routine much to the delight of all who saw them!
Meeting In The Marsh
Earlier this week we had a group meeting in the salt marsh during low tide. Despite there being four different species of birds in the group: great and snowy egrets, wood storks, and white ibis… everyone got along fine. Even when an additional overly excited snowy flew in to join the meeting, they all remained calm and focused on the day’s agenda which of course was feeding.
Can you count the total number of birds in this group? Remember, the arriving snowy added one more to the number. 🙂
Happy Halloween From Mr. A!
It was great to see our pal Mr. A in the swamp getting into the Halloween spirit with his scary costume! The only problem was… I wasn’t exactly sure what the costume was supposed to be. A floating weed bog?!? Well I didn’t know and I was not about to ask him either.
But considering the swamp is stuffed with moorhens, coots, and grebes right now… I’m guessing the Trick or Treat aspect may end up being more of a trick on the unsuspecting water fowl if Mr. A really wants to turn this Halloween into something especially scary. 😯
Phil Lanoue Photography 