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.
Scattering The Flock!
Earlier this evening we were watching a large group of white ibis feeding in the salt marsh.
Suddenly the entire group flew up in a panic and scattered in all directions.
We have witnessed this in the past and immediately our eyes turned to the sky above and sure enough…gliding in just above the trees was a bald eagle!
This one is a juvenile, it’s head and tail feathers have not yet started to turn white. But any eagle will get the flock to scatter and that certainly was the case this time.
Out For An Evening Stroll
This weekend we were a bit surprised to see an alligator climb up out of the marsh pond and take a nice little walk right across a roadway.
The gator headed over to the opposite side where it lumbered down among the rocks and weeds on it’s way to visiting the salt marsh where he was hoping to find a large meal of fresh fish and crabs!
We often see the alligators floating along in the water, but it never fails to amaze us to see one walking on land. It is the closest thing we have to a living dinosaur.
Suspended Animation
Great egrets are a fairly common bird in this area, therefore we often tend to overlook them.
But in reality they are graceful and elegant birds.
Captured here in early morning sunlight this egret looks quite lovely.
But what I found most interesting was how the bird was literally suspended in mid air.
Just a slight tilt of it’s wings and a light breeze was all that was needed to keep it aloft and virtually motionless.
“There’s no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, a state of bliss.
Suspended animation, a state of bliss.
Can’t keep my mind from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I”
Tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit, I”
“Learning To Fly” Pink Floyd
One Lucky Wood Stork
Earlier this week were watching a group of wood storks feeding in the salt marsh.
Can you spot the one lucky stork in the bunch?
“Radar” And A Friend
Some of you may remember seeing our pal “Radar” here before. He is the great egret that has a transmitter pack attached to his back with two antennas sticking out.
He is supposed to be a part of a study of migratory habits of wading birds. The problem with that is”Radar” never really goes very far, so it’s likely his data contribution is not tremendously helpful.
Anyway here he was last night enjoying his evening in the marsh with a friend. They got along just fine.
Actually wading birds such as egrets and herons will often stay near an alligator that is actively feeding. The gator will get fish all stirred up and in a panic, which can make them easier for the birds to catch.
A Lot Of Posing…Not Much Fishing
Yesterday evening I spent some time set up on this rather grumpy looking great blue heron hoping it would catch a fish.
However it seemed to be much more interested in posing and preening than it was in fishing.
I was about to give up on the bird but then the sun broke through and it looked like the action might pick up.
Well it did…sort of…the heron made a stab at capturing a fish but only came up with what looked like some marsh weeds.
Despite the unsuccessful attempt, the great blue’s disposition seemed to improve somewhat, but shortly after that heavy evening cloud cover came in and spoiled the lighting so I went on my way and left it alone with the hope that he got a fish eventually!
Greenie’s Big Catch!
Recently we were watching this green heron working the edge of the salt marsh among the oyster beds. The greenie was intently yet patiently staring into the water in hopes a fish would swim nearby.
His diligence was rewarded as the bird plucked it’s evening meal out of the water. The green heron had to be happy with this catch as we so often see them snatch up only tiny minnows which require much more work for less payoff.
Crunching A Crab!
Yesterday evening I was watching this alligator making it’s way along the salt marsh among the oyster beds at low tide.
I saw it suddenly lunge out at something but wasn’t sure exactly what the gator caught until it lifted up it’s head and I realized it had a nice size blue crab!
Well…the alligator proceeded to crunch the crab (which I could clearly hear from my position) until it finally bit down hard on the now completely cracked crab, and gulped down it’s meal.
Incidentally, if you view the time lapse video I posted earlier of the same marsh area, at 28 seconds in you can glimpse this same alligator making it’s way back into the marsh.
Phil Lanoue Photography 