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.
When word got out at the salt marsh earlier this week that there would be a free seafood buffet for Happy Hour, the wood storks absolutely mobbed the joint.
This is of course typical wood stork behavior, as they usually travel in a gang and like to push everybody around with those huge stork bodies.
Advertise free food and that’s just encouraging their boorish behavior.
An anhinga took a break from fishing in the salt marsh earlier this week and was utilizing the standard anhinga wing drying pose.
Although anhingas are water birds and feed by catching fish under the water, they are not ‘water proof’ in the traditional sense. They need to spread their wings to dry them off in the sun before going back at it again later. I always say they look like wet cats coming out of the water, and their feathers look a lot like cat fur when dry. 🙂
They also tend to keep their heads on a swivel while drying, always continuously looking in every direction possibly for predators which in this area would include alligators.
The ospreys have been all over the place around the salt marsh for the past couple of days. These really are some hard working birds unlike a certain other lazy pirate bald eagle which shall remain nameless.
These two ospreys pictured here were successful with a catch, but they so often miss when diving down for a fish. That, along with the seemingly endless flying and circling over a likely area, has to take a lot of energy. But at least in these cases they got to keep their reward as ‘you know who’ didn’t come blasting in out of nowhere in an attempt to steal the prize.
Both the anhinga and the cormorant are water birds. They each feed by swimming under the water and chasing after fish using their big flipper feet to rapidly propel them along.
But once a fish is caught, that is where the similarity ends. I took these anhinga photos this past weekend and the cormorant photos today, both in the salt marsh right around the same areas in fact.
The anhinga uses the spear fishing method. It will spear a fish on the end of it’s very sharp pointed bill and pop his head up out of the water with the fish still stuck there. But now the anhinga has to get the fish off it’s bill in order to eat it. This is most often done by flipping the fish straight up and off the bill and then catching it in mid air head first on the way down. This is one of the all time best, most interesting and exciting bird fishing actions in my view and always a thrill to see.
The cormorant on the other hand has a more pedestrian approach to fishing. It goes with what I call the ‘grab and gulp’ method. Cormorants simply grab the fish and hold it in place vice grip style using that stout and strong bill with a hooked end, before also popping up it’s head to finish the task. A slight toss back of the head with one quick gulp and our fishy meal is down the hatch. Nothing fancy, but sure gets the job done. Actually the cormorant may utilize the more efficient method since it requires less action which leaves time for more eating.
But I’m giving the edge to the anhinga for style, and as a spectator I have to admire the show. 🙂
Well, the entire marsh area where I generally do most of the wildlife photography was closed off due to damage and required repairs after Hurricane Matthew passed through.
It reopened this past weekend and I was there all three days.
On Friday afternoon, the first thing I spotted was this osprey sitting in a pine tree by himself minding his own business. For some reason though he had his head on a swivel and seemed to be constantly looking around. The osprey had already eaten his fish, so I figured it wasn’t an eagle he was concerned about but at least that made some sense.
What I wasn’t expecting was that a great blue heron that had been circling over the salt marsh for a while would suddenly decide to invade the osprey’s personal space. The heron initially went down low, then did a steep dive upward right toward what would turn out to be the branch directly below the osprey.
Now normally, an osprey and blue heron are two birds that I rarely see interact in any way so I can’t figure what got into this great blue.
The heron gave the osprey some serious attitude, and the osprey immediately became very flustered and took flight leaving his quiet afternoon branch sitting behind.
The heron appeared pleased with his aggressive move and proudly took ownership of the now osprey-less tree. Of course withing minutes the blue heron also flew off so I don’t know exactly what the point of the whole thing ever was.
Right around the same time last week that we had the spoonbill come in and put on an extensive bathing demonstration, we also had a couple of white ibis get in on the act.
We often call them “muddy ibis” because they frequently get filthy and covered in mud due to their feeding techniques. They use their long, curved bills to forage in the mud for food and usually end up covered in the stuff.
So a nice splash around in the salt water of the marsh is just the ticket to get a bird all clean and looking sparkling white again, even though it won’t last long… 🙂
This afternoon we were watching a cute little tricolored heron actively fishing in the salt marsh. The tide was coming in and it was bringing tons of fish in with it.
At one point the skillful tri struck at the water and came up with a good size fish, bigger then most fish a small heron like this would normally catch. He was quite obviously thrilled with his catch as he proceeded to dance and prance around in the water proudly showing off his prize.
This was most certainly the appropriate moment to break out into his ‘happy dance’!
I myself particularly liked the way the late afternoon light, and reflection of nearby marsh reeds made rather lovely colors in the water. I’m sure the little tri was not concerned with such things, but I thought it helped make the dance floor look even more appealing. 🙂
This afternoon we found out our one lone remaining spoonbill was still hanging around the salt marsh area when he came swooping in just after 3pm.
About an hour and a half later, spoonie jumped off and headed for the trees at the far back edge of the marsh pond no doubt with a pleasant nap in mind.
In between that, an osprey flew overhead looking pleased with his obviously very fresh catch safely tucked in for later dining.
Another active day over at the marsh. The ibis especially were having themselves a heck of a time bathing, crunching crabs and flying all over. More on them tomorrow.
Phil Lanoue Photography 