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.
Nice Catch!
This morning I was watching an osprey circling above the marsh hunting for breakfast. I saw him dive down a few times and come up empty each time.
Finally, he hit the water and I could tell he got himself a fish. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the osprey had caught two fish!
Normally I stop taking photos as a bird begins to fly away from me, but in this case I’m glad I stuck with it. It’s amazing for me to see an osprey with a pair of fish, one dangling from each talon!
I Think We All Know Who Made Those Tracks…
Very early this morning, I mean really early, we noticed some fresh tracks in the salt marsh mud leading out to the shallow water due to low tide.
The architect of the tracks was quickly spotted making his way along the mud and out into the water to get an early jump on some morning fishing.
The little sneak had gotten up and out right at sunrise, no doubt to surprise the seafood buffet that will be unprepared for a hungry breakfast guest.
Where Are You Guys Off To In Such A Rush?
Earlier this week I looked up just in time to see a group of white ibis flying in formation across the salt marsh in a huge hurry.
Not sure what the big emergency was, but they must have needed to be somewhere fast because they were really moving!
The ‘Tweener’
Little Blue Herons start out as all white juveniles and look very similar to snowy egrets. As adults, they become almost entirely blue with a small touch of maroon coloring.
When they are at the in between phase, transitioning from immature to adult little blues, they appear as a patchwork checkerboard of blue and white. These are the birds we often refer to as “tweeners”.
This afternoon I saw one flying above me over the salt marsh. Little blue herons are usually high flyers as opposed to skimming just over the reeds as the larger herons often will, so I ended up with these open blue sky shots.
Fluff And Fly
Earlier this weekend we were watching a tricolored heron fishing in the salt marsh.
Once he decided he was done and it was time to move on, he gave himself a good fluff up and then quickly left the scene.
I really like these colorful active little herons!
Working For Your Breakfast
It’s a rough morning when you have to struggle with your own breakfast.
This egret plucked a fresh and feisty eel out of the salt marsh this morning and it took him a good ten minutes to wrangle the wriggling snack down. But the hard work paid off and he did eventually manage just fine.
Although, I expect that eel has to be alive for a little while anyway in the bird’s stomach which must be an odd feeling.
Sunset Cruise
Yesterday evening I grabbed a shot of this great blue heron as he was flying out across the marsh.
I was shooting directly into the warm setting sunlight which was backlighting the heron as he glided through.
Great Blue Heron and Friend
A blue heron watches alertly as an alligator glides along slowly in the background at the salt marsh this evening.
The gator had no interest in the bird at all, he had fresh blue crab on his mind and we saw him catch and crunch down a tasty crab.
I never saw the heron catch a single fish, guess he was too busy keeping an eye on his alligator buddy.
Phil Lanoue Photography 