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.
American Mink
Yesterday late in the afternoon, I saw this little mink pop it’s head up at the edge of the salt marsh. It started racing around in a very purposeful manner keeping it’s head and nose down as if it was frantically searching for something. Perhaps it had previously stashed some food in a den among the rocks and could not recall the locations of all the stashes. It clearly had a mission in mind though because the odd and interesting thing was that it ignored me the entire time. As you can see especially in the last photo, the mink was practically right at my feet and did not seem to care at all that I was there.
Morning In The Swamp
Although cold, it was bright and sunny this morning at the swamp so I was hoping a few of my alligator friends might be out looking to warm up a bit.
It didn’t take long for this one young gator to come gliding in, and eventually climb up and claim his sun spot on a small bog.
Another alligator at the water’s edge was barely able to keep his eyes open and I knew he would be in full nap mode shortly. I went back to check in on him a bit later, and I saw that a little song sparrow (see the last photo) was standing on the end of the sleeping gator’s tail!
The Chase Is On!
Wednesday was a busy day at the marsh. In addition to the bald eagles… the pelicans, egrets, ibis, and herons were all out catching fish. At one point a great blue heron snagged a fish which immediately caught the attention of another heron who proceeded to chase his friend around the marsh trying to get him to drop it. The chase was quickly broken off however and the great blue that caught the fish, got to keep the fish!
The Lovely Mrs. Bald Eagle
We have a mated pair of bald eagles that seem to have taken up residence in the marsh area lately. They can often be seen sitting in one of their favorite trees on the far side of the marsh, but they will occasionally fly over to the near side where we can get a good look at them. Yesterday afternoon they were both quite active. The male was spotted chasing off a rival at one point, and then later swooped down when an egret and a gull got into a disagreement over ownership of a fish.
The female came flying in shortly after those events and she took up a position in a nearby pine tree. I was watching her for a little while and grabbed a few photos but I suspected she wouldn’t stay too long, and I was hoping to get shots of her as she left the tree. When I saw her fluff up a bit and take a good look toward the marsh I thought that might be the time…and it was. She launched herself out of the tree and as she got up into open blue sky she gave me a good parting look. Perhaps she was hoping the photos I took of her would be flattering since she’s such an attractive eagle!
I’ll have some photos of the handsome Mr. Eagle posted probably some time this weekend.
Streamlined Flight
Yesterday was a very breezy day over at the salt marsh. If it gets too windy many birds will curtail unnecessary flying because it requires more energy then on a calm day.
You can see in this flight photo of a tricolored heron how it tucked itself into a more aerodynamic shape to cut down on wind resistance.
“Quick…Look Behind You!!”
Last week we saw this great egret catch itself a nice fish in the salt marsh. Often, after catching the fish, a bird like an egret will take the fish away from the water and deal with it on land. The idea being that should it drop the fish, it won’t be landing in water where it might swim away. The bad part about dropping the fish in the marsh at low tide however is that no bird likes to eat that nasty mud which now coats much of the fish.
This egret was about to have a bigger problem however. A brown pelican had taken notice of the egret and it’s fish and was rapidly closing in from behind. When the pelican arrived, the shocked and surprised egret jumped away from the pelican and also jumped right out of my frame. I ended up clipping the top of it’s head and wings in the third photo.
The egret popped up it’s head feathers, and threw up it’s wings in excitement over the whole event and quickly left the area with it’s prize intact!
How Many Birds?
I photographed this group flight of little shore birds as they zipped across the salt marsh this morning.
Can you count them?!
Leaving The Marsh
I initially spotted this great blue heron perched on a stump in the marsh pond yesterday just prior to sunset. As I brought up the camera to take a look at him he picked that moment to take off and leave the area. I grabbed this photo as he swooped by me, possibly on his way to the evening roost.
Phil Lanoue Photography 