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.
This great blue heron jetting across the reeds in the salt marsh was using every inch of his body to really streamline his flight.
I’m not sure what the urgency was, but these birds often purposely create drama if none actually exists at the moment.
At this time of year, what used to be early evening light is now late afternoon light. But it’s still one of the nicest times to be out in the salt marsh area and having the chance to watch colorful birds such as these tricolored herons.
Here we have a juvenile flying back toward the tress perhaps to roost as his day may be coming to a close.
The adult however was not done fishing and has a nice catch to wind up his day. In both cases, it’s a nice time of year to be out there.
Earlier this week we had a white ibis and snowy egret fishing together in the salt marsh. Suddenly the ibis decided he wanted to show off for his snowy friend and go into a full fluff and twist act.
I thought the expression on snowball’s face was priceless, he never reacted even slightly. Even as the ibis walks away looking all pleased and satisfied with himself I couldn’t get a read on the snowy. He was either thinking… “Dude, that was so totally awesome!” Or… “Man, that ibis is nuts.”
Either one works I suppose but comical and interesting in any case. 🙂
When word got out at the salt marsh earlier this week that there would be a free seafood buffet for Happy Hour, the wood storks absolutely mobbed the joint.
This is of course typical wood stork behavior, as they usually travel in a gang and like to push everybody around with those huge stork bodies.
Advertise free food and that’s just encouraging their boorish behavior.
An anhinga took a break from fishing in the salt marsh earlier this week and was utilizing the standard anhinga wing drying pose.
Although anhingas are water birds and feed by catching fish under the water, they are not ‘water proof’ in the traditional sense. They need to spread their wings to dry them off in the sun before going back at it again later. I always say they look like wet cats coming out of the water, and their feathers look a lot like cat fur when dry. 🙂
They also tend to keep their heads on a swivel while drying, always continuously looking in every direction possibly for predators which in this area would include alligators.
The ospreys have been all over the place around the salt marsh for the past couple of days. These really are some hard working birds unlike a certain other lazy pirate bald eagle which shall remain nameless.
These two ospreys pictured here were successful with a catch, but they so often miss when diving down for a fish. That, along with the seemingly endless flying and circling over a likely area, has to take a lot of energy. But at least in these cases they got to keep their reward as ‘you know who’ didn’t come blasting in out of nowhere in an attempt to steal the prize.
Both the anhinga and the cormorant are water birds. They each feed by swimming under the water and chasing after fish using their big flipper feet to rapidly propel them along.
But once a fish is caught, that is where the similarity ends. I took these anhinga photos this past weekend and the cormorant photos today, both in the salt marsh right around the same areas in fact.
The anhinga uses the spear fishing method. It will spear a fish on the end of it’s very sharp pointed bill and pop his head up out of the water with the fish still stuck there. But now the anhinga has to get the fish off it’s bill in order to eat it. This is most often done by flipping the fish straight up and off the bill and then catching it in mid air head first on the way down. This is one of the all time best, most interesting and exciting bird fishing actions in my view and always a thrill to see.
The cormorant on the other hand has a more pedestrian approach to fishing. It goes with what I call the ‘grab and gulp’ method. Cormorants simply grab the fish and hold it in place vice grip style using that stout and strong bill with a hooked end, before also popping up it’s head to finish the task. A slight toss back of the head with one quick gulp and our fishy meal is down the hatch. Nothing fancy, but sure gets the job done. Actually the cormorant may utilize the more efficient method since it requires less action which leaves time for more eating.
But I’m giving the edge to the anhinga for style, and as a spectator I have to admire the show. 🙂
Well, the entire marsh area where I generally do most of the wildlife photography was closed off due to damage and required repairs after Hurricane Matthew passed through.
It reopened this past weekend and I was there all three days.
On Friday afternoon, the first thing I spotted was this osprey sitting in a pine tree by himself minding his own business. For some reason though he had his head on a swivel and seemed to be constantly looking around. The osprey had already eaten his fish, so I figured it wasn’t an eagle he was concerned about but at least that made some sense.
What I wasn’t expecting was that a great blue heron that had been circling over the salt marsh for a while would suddenly decide to invade the osprey’s personal space. The heron initially went down low, then did a steep dive upward right toward what would turn out to be the branch directly below the osprey.
Now normally, an osprey and blue heron are two birds that I rarely see interact in any way so I can’t figure what got into this great blue.
The heron gave the osprey some serious attitude, and the osprey immediately became very flustered and took flight leaving his quiet afternoon branch sitting behind.
The heron appeared pleased with his aggressive move and proudly took ownership of the now osprey-less tree. Of course withing minutes the blue heron also flew off so I don’t know exactly what the point of the whole thing ever was.
Phil Lanoue Photography 