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.
It’s That Time of Year
Earlier this weekend a great egret came gliding across the reeds, took a hard right turn, and landed in the salt marsh directly in front of me.
Once I spotted the bright green lores around it’s eyes I realized that this bird was in breeding condition. The egret will also likely develop long back plumes which may be fanned out during courtship.
Other egrets and herons may display breeding color and plumage as well. The snowy egrets get bright reddish orange lores, while the great blue heron has bright blue around it’s eyes and the tricolored heron’s entire bill may turn a bright royal blue.
Always interesting to see nature in action.
Snowy Fly and Fluff
This afternoon a snowy egret came flying into the salt marsh (completely ignored by the larger great egret) he touched down, then proceeded to get all fluffed up about whatever the snowy issue du jour was.
The Hunter
There was a great blue heron bouncing around all over the salt marsh this afternoon trying desperately to catch this one certain fish.
The heron spotted the fish swimming in a sort of landlocked stream caused by the low tide and it was making him crazy.
First he flew directly toward me, then turned and went back across the opposite side. He finally did catch the fish but it was behind the reeds and then he flew away with his prize giving me little more than a parting butt shot as he departed.
But it was wild to see this bird frantically flying in short hops and dancing around the marsh in pursuit of it’s prey!
There Always Has To Be Comments
The great blue herons around this area seem to love to hear themselves speak. They will squawk at anyone or no one, for any reason or no reason. They feel compelled to announce their comings and goings as well as their mere presence.
This GBH from earlier this week was no different. Even though there were no other birds at all in the area, he had to let the world know that he was flying from one spot in the marsh, to a different spot in the marsh.
It just has to be done.
Big Day Of Fishing
Actually, there was nothing big about it at all. I was watching a pelican getting all pumped up to fish in the salt marsh this afternoon and sure enough, he plunged right in.
I knew he caught something, and when he opened up that big yap I instantly saw what it was.
No, I made that up, I didn’t see anything. It wasn’t until I got home later today and looked at the photos that I saw the pelican had caught the tiniest fish on the face of the earth. He probably really had several, but these were small fish, really small.
I suppose if he catches enough of them, as in huge mouthfuls, it might fill him up. But at this rate he will need to snag a jackpot soon!
Snowys… At It Again
You would think the main purpose of fishing in the salt marsh would be…fishing in the salt marsh. But oh no, not for the snowy egrets. As usual, 60% of the time they could spend hunting for food is instead spent fussing and squabbling with each other. It never fails, if there is more than one snowy egret in an area, a disagreement will break out. I think it’s in their official charter.
So once again… this afternoon there were about half a dozen of these high strung little agitators around and that meant almost non stop bickering. Of course that provides almost endless comical photographic possibilities for me, but somehow I don’t think they see it that way.
Nothing Interferes With Nap Time
An alligator was trying to enjoy a quiet nap in the sun this afternoon when an egret showed up and proceeded to stroll around the whole area and create a ruckus.
The snoozing gator was not about to allow this annoying bird to disturb his sleep however. I think he may have opened his eyes halfway once or twice and stretched out his back leg, but that was about it. Afternoon naps are serious business and no prancing egret is going to mess that up.
Pelican Coming And Going
A pelican this afternoon was working the salt marsh hard as the tide was coming in and bringing fish in with it.
The big guy made several back and forth passes in front of the reeds and just above the oyster beds.
Warmer weather made it a busy day out there today. In addition to the pelican, we had a bald eagle, osprey, egrets, herons, the usual assortment of little shore birds and of course some alligators were out soaking up the sun. 🙂
Phil Lanoue Photography 