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.
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.
Wet And Hungry
There were several ospreys fishing around the salt marsh yesterday afternoon and this one hit the water right in front of me.
We both hoped he would come up with a nice fish. He wanted lunch and I wanted an exciting photo.
But all we both ended up with was a wet, unhappy, and still hungry bird.
He kept at it though, ospreys are hard working birds and when everyone sees big fish jumping out there, it’s game on!
Tasty, But Not Particularly Satisfying
This past week I was watching a tricolored heron fishing in the salt marsh. At one point he caught and quickly knocked back a small fish.
At first he looked quite happy to have this tiny, tasty snack. But in the last photo I thought he had kind of a disappointed look on his face, as if he was thinking… “Is that it?”
Diving In
This past weekend a spoonbill comes diving down looking for a perfect spot to land!
Crabby Is Not So Lucky This Time
Earlier this month we had a big blue crab that escaped being munched by an alligator by pinching the gator’s nose with his strong claw.
But this time our crabby friend was not able to intimidate this hungry alligator from making a meal out of fresh caught crab. Crabby got crunched and munched this time, which is the case more often then not out there in the salt marsh.
Phil Lanoue Photography 