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.
Marsh Eagle Continued…
So to continue on from yesterday…after the eagle took off from out of the marsh with it’s muddy, mangled fish, we were shocked to see it land on a wood guard rail at the side of a causeway that runs by part of the marsh. The eagle just stood there for well over a minute looking around in all directions. Possibly it was waiting for it’s friend to arrive that we saw flying around at the same time. But still, why would it decide to sit and wait there, in a low spot near a road?
Next you will see photos of your intrepid photographer (me) working the situation. The first shot was taken from far back by our friend Glenn who had his lens trained on the eagle as well. The next three shots were taken by my ever present sidekick and wife Alyce. The three of us were the only ones in the area until a car came around the corner at the end of the causeway. It turned out to be our friend Brenda who was holding back from driving on because she saw what we were doing and did not want to spook the eagle into leaving before it was ready to leave on it’s own. Interesting and exciting afternoon at the marsh yesterday!
Marsh Eagle
It was a quiet afternoon today at the salt marsh. Not too much going on, just a few of the regulars fishing including the herons, egrets, ibis, pelicans and cormorants.
The sky was grey and overcast and the temps started to drop a bit so we figured it was time to head home. But suddenly this bald eagle appeared and it started to circle around the marsh area, intently keeping it’s eyes on the water below. It hovered briefly then dropped down hitting the shallow water which was hidden by the tall reeds. Next thing we know he comes up with a fish and flies off with his catch as we watch admiringly below.
We were very glad we stayed around a bit longer.
There is more to this story which I will post tomorrow, but here’s a preview. There is a roadway with a wood guard rail on the side which runs along next to the marsh.
Before the eagle left for the trees with his fish, he stopped and landed on that wood railing very close in front of me. He was still holding his fish and he just sat there looking around for about a minute and a half. We couldn’t believe it! My wife and our photographer friend Glenn were the only people around to witness this. They both got some pics some of which as it turns out, show yours truly at work!
Ibis Fishing
Last week I was watching these two white ibis fishing in the salt marsh during low tide.
One of them caught a nice size fish and even had a bit of a struggle to get it under control and swallowed down.
But what I found most interesting about this situation was…his friend completely ignored the entire event.
Normally when two or more birds are feeding near each other and somebody comes up with a nice catch it creates a giant fuss and everyone has to get involved!
But not this time, the other ibis just calmly continued on about it’s business while his friend enjoyed a hearty meal.
Another Swampy Morning
Yesterday morning, after the early fog began to lift, I headed over to the swamp to check on potential activity.
I quickly saw a group of three alligators sitting out waiting and hoping that some warm sunshine would come their way. It did, and they seemed fairly content.
The usual coots and moorhens were in attendance going about their business often under the watchful but disinterested gaze of a gator.
Just as I was about to leave I saw something crunching through the dried reeds. It turned out to be this young alligator who wandered out, propped itself up, and sat there looking at me like a frog on a lily pad.
Morning Flight In Blue
On Thursday morning I saw this great blue heron flying across the marsh pond looking quite purposeful. The blue heron is one of my all time favorite birds and I particularly liked the way this one looked with the blue water background.
Look Of Determination
One thing I can say about this osprey photo from yesterday morning…I would not want to be a fish and have that bird looking down at me like that with it’s skyhooks at the ready to pluck me out of the water!
Flight Pair
This morning I photographed a pair of white ibis flying just above the marsh pond. The bottom ibis is displaying the all white plumage of an adult. You can see how the ibis flying above still has some patches of brown indicating it is transforming from an adolescent into an adult.
They seemed to be in a hurry and were likely heading over to join their friends who were feeding in the salt marsh nearby.
Just A Quick Shout Out
I wanted to jump in today and make a real quick post to say Hi and then I’m outa here!
My main computer crashed Monday night so for today I’m working off a 12 year old laptop just to get these two pics posted of a bald eagle from this past weekend. The screen on that machine is so bad I have no idea how those photos look.
I should be back in business tomorrow so here’s just a quick hit and run (or fly)!
Phil Lanoue Photography 