Phil Lanoue Photography

No Big Deal

A group of wood storks seem unconcerned and unimpressed as a young alligator slowly glides through the pack yesterday evening in the marsh pond.

Study In Behavior And Movement

Great Blue Herons have always been one of my all time favorite birds. I find them to be very interesting and observing and photographing their behavior can often be quite enjoyable.

One thing I have learned is that GBHs love the sound of their own voice. They usually feel compelled to ‘talk’ about everything, and sometimes it appears (at least to us) that they are talking about nothing at all. They particularly like to announce their arrivals and departures. I can hear that distinctive voice behind me and don’t even have to turn around to know one is inbound.

On this particular morning I was watching this individual casually strolling around the marsh with no apparent particular purpose. But once he opened that big yap and gave me that lean forward posture, I knew he was planning to leave the area. The heron took a step, got into a pre-launch position, and blasted off leaving behind only a splash. It took one more slight touch to get that big body fully airborne but quickly he was up and on his way.

I kept watching the bird as he made his way across the marsh and just prior to landing all the way on the other side, he did not disappoint. I heard that loud cackling call announcing his incoming arrival to everyone and no one.

One Lone Spoonbill

For about the past two weeks, all we have had in the marsh area is this one lone spoonie all by his lonesome. All his friends have left, so at this point we figure our remaining pink visitor will either leave soon as well, or some of his friends may return. That second option is what we are hoping for, especially since we had two or three stay until mid November last year.

For now at least I was happy to have had the opportunity on a recent afternoon to spend about an hour with our pink loner.

Abrupt Departure

A white ibis jumps off from the salt marsh this afternoon at low tide. Clearly he needed to be someplace else and fast!

The Tern Gets His Turn

Earlier this week we saw an osprey hit the water, get soaked, but come up empty. That same day this Caspian Tern also hit the water but came up with a nice fish for his trouble.

Wet and happy this time!

The Chatty Little Kingfisher

I heard the little chatterbox before I saw him. I usually always do. As soon as I heard that squeaky, chattering call I immediately knew a kingfisher was flying into the area.

Kingfishers are amazing and cute little guys, but they also annoy the heck out of me. They are small, extremely fast and erratic flyers and I always have a tough time trying to catch flight shots of them.

But it’s that cute chatty voice that really gets me. It’s almost as if the bird is mocking me and daring me to try to get a photo of him as he is zooming across the marsh as if he had a jet engine installed.

But Thursday afternoon I at least managed to get a few photos as it blasted through, chattering all the way. Then it did one loop around a tree and headed back out across the reeds astonishing me by managing to keep his little yap shut for a few seconds.

I will continue to go out and attempt to get more photos of these mighty marvels, and I’m sure they will continue to use their voices to make fun of me as they blow by before I can even get the camera up.

“Don’t Mind Me, I’m Just Passing Through”

A wood stork had pulled a huge mullet out of the salt marsh during low tide and was struggling to get it down when this egret came strolling through the scene. Notice how the egret totally ignores Woody who looks like he would prefer nobody bother him while in the process of trying to enjoy dinner.