Phil Lanoue Photography

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?

Reflective Stalking

Although the snowy egrets are the true fussbudgets of the marsh, and are frequently seen squabbling with one another, they can be all business when it comes to fishing. They can stalk their prey with the best of them.

Here, a snowy works the calm water of the salt marsh searching for his prize catch.

Give him a little time…he’ll come up with something.

In A Twist

When you look at this female anhinga it’s easy to understand how they are sometimes referred to as a ‘snake bird’.

When I saw this lovely young lady soaking up the sun at the edge of the marsh yesterday morning, her personality and unique talents shone through.