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.
“Don’t Bother Me Pal, Go after The Other Guy”
As a young alligator begins to creep up on the fishing egret, the bird initially ignores the gator until it starts to glide in a bit closer.
Keep in mind the egret is fully capable of flying off and leaving the area, but chooses not to at this point. Instead, the egret appears to redirect the alligator’s attention over to his nearby friend who clearly has no idea what is going on.
That plan seems to work perfectly as the gator turns and veers off toward the other unsuspecting egret.
Of course nothing really happens and all egrets are just fine because the alligator was diverted once again by a passing fish which was more than likely his intended prey of choice that morning to begin with.
It never fails to amaze me how the two species can actively feed in a close proximity to one another with (as usual) only the fish coming out on the losing end of the whole deal.
That ‘Uh Oh’ Moment
This fish seems to be quite aware it is having a bad day which is just about to get much worse.
An egret fishing in the salt marsh earlier this week caught this guy, sending our poor little friend in the sea to his untimely demise.
Once that moment hits, it has to be a bad feeling.
In The Muck
With the heat wave we have been experiencing this week, the widgeon grass in the marsh has been exploding and bringing along with it some sort of yellow pond gunk.
This alligator doesn’t look particularly happy to have found himself surrounded by this unsightly mess. But of course. it was his idea to swim into it in the first place. Sure, there may be some fish swimming just under the surface of the weeds, but maybe it’s not worth the extra effort and aggravation.
Well Someone Is Cranky In The Morning
Early this morning there were some various egrets feeding in the salt marsh among the oyster beds. Suddenly this one snowy came swooping in and felt compelled to immediately chase off his friend.
Snowys are like that…they don’t need a specific reason to create a huge fuss, just the mere presence of another snowy is all it takes for a skirmish to break out.
It all ends just as quickly as it starts though, soon all is forgiven and forgotten. Well, until the next time.
Summer Storm
I was over at the marsh this afternoon checking out some of the usual egrets, herons, wood storks and alligators, when I looked up and saw these ominous clouds rapidly approaching from the north and west.
Once the thunder and lightning started I knew a thunderstorm was moving in.
Since I only had the telephoto with me on the regular camera, I whipped out the phone just for a couple of quick grab shots of the developing darkness.
The first picture is looking north across the salt marsh and, as the main storm clouds advanced east, I quickly headed over to the beach where I took the second shot of the storm heading out across the ocean.
Interestingly, we never got a single drop of rain. Often the ocean breeze will beat back an approaching storm and apparently, despite some lightning and thunder, that’s what happened here.
I’ll be back tomorrow with the usual wildlife photos. 🙂
Heading Back
An osprey flies back from the ocean where he just plucked himself out a nice fish. It’s an odd looking fish though, I’m not sure what type it is. Usually I see the ospreys with mullet or a similar species, guess this guy wanted a little variety added to the usual seafood buffet.
All Fluffed Up
A snowy egret in the salt marsh this afternoon seemed aggravated over the heat wave we’re currently experiencing here in the south. Right now, nobody at the marsh is in a particularly good mood.
I didn’t see any alligators out. Probably a good thing…
Sneaky Boy
I was looking through my files and almost forgot I had this shot of an alligator looking all pleased with himself because he thinks he hidden behind the bushes.
Of course it’s actually just a small weed, but if he thinks he is clever and crafty, who am I to tell him different?
Phil Lanoue Photography 