Phil Lanoue Photography

Just A Typical Day In Snowy Egret World

Yesterday afternoon we were watching this group of snowy egrets fishing in the salt marsh during low tide. Whenever you get a group of snowys together in one place you can always count on an argument breaking out. We estimate that snowys must spend a good 60% of their day fussing and chasing one another. This is what they do and they just can’t seem to help it! It usually only lasts a few seconds and all is forgotten until the next snowy decides it now needs to take issue with his friend who had been previously minding his own business.

However, this comical behavior often does provide photo opportunities for us, so we always take time to stop and watch the entertaining snowys.

Ascending or Descending?

I photographed this great blue heron last week at the marsh as it was gliding in for a landing. But at a quick first glance I thought it almost looked like the heron was either hovering still in the air, or actually floating upward.

What do you think?

“Too Bad I Can’t Eat Oysters”

This white ibis from last week appears rather forlorn, or perhaps simply bewildered to be standing amid a huge oyster bed in the salt marsh. Although oysters are quite commonly consumed by humans… otters and even a raccoon may occasionally eat them. Sadly however, despite the abundance of oysters in the marshland, they are not something an ibis can eat.

But oysters are good for the environment and help keep the water clean. Oysters are filter feeders, and can filter up to 5 liters of water per hour as they eat. So even though they do not provide meals for ibis, the oysters are very useful because they give clean water to the fish, birds and the rest of us!

Inconspicuous

A while back we spotted Mr. Alligator doing his best to keep a low profile in the swamp amid the duckweed. His attempt at inconspicuousness and blending in could work.

Whatever he is hoping will end up on the day’s menu might never see him…and could end up bumping right into trouble.

Time Lapse Of Late Afternoon Clouds

I made this 26 second time lapse from my backyard today of the late afternoon clouds moving by as the sky cleared.

Morning In The Marsh

Cold and slow start to the morning today. We awoke to an unusual frost but decided to layer up anyway and head over to the marsh to see what might be happening.

It turned out that not a lot was going on. We did see a bald eagle fishing but it was fairly far out and never cooperated by flying in close. The usual blue herons were chasing each other around but also did not give us a courtesy fly by.

I did manage to grab a few flight shots so I would at least have something to come back with.

This belted kingfisher was hovering over the marsh in search of a tasty little fish.

A young brown pelican was gliding along at tree top level.

A snowy egret took a break from chasing his friends and swooped in low over the marsh grass.

And a lesser yellowlegs took off from out of the salt marsh among some oysters.

That pretty much does it for today’s edition of the Morning Marsh News!

Nothing To Worry About

A while back I saw this great blue heron fishing in the shallow water of the marsh pond. The heron paused for a bit when his pal Mr. Alligator slowly floated into the scene.

The heron was cautious and observant but unconcerned since the alligator was not in stealthy hunt mode, and also a relatively small alligator like this would likely not bother a great blue heron. Besides the heron knew it could fly off in an instant and immediately be up and far away.

We often see birds and alligators fishing together in the same area. The common goal is to get plenty of fish to eat. Plus the birds may actually be attracted to an area where an alligator is actively feeding. They know the gator can stir up the water and the fish making the fish easier to catch.

“Hoodie”…Coming and Going

This past weekend I was set up by myself along the salt marsh hoping something would happen. Suddenly I only barely spotted something jetting in quickly toward my location. I brought the camera up just in time to catch this male hooded merganser skidding in for a landing next to me. The reason why it landed near me in the first place was because it didn’t realize I was there! Mergansers are notoriously shy and skittish birds who prefer to not be in close proximity to people. This one turned and floated for just a couple of seconds until it saw me and that was it…Mr. Hoodie took off for a location farther out in the marsh leaving me alone once again.