Snowy Egret at New Smyrna Beach Florida

Tricolored Heron

This tricolored heron was vigorously hunting in the shallow waters of the Emeralda Marsh.  I find these birds to be very skittish and they are very difficult for me to get within decent range.  They usually put up with me long enough to get the tripod set up and my eye to the viewfinder, then off they go before the focus and exposure are set.  If I can get one like this guy when they are a little preoccupied with eating then I can get closer.  I really try and not disturb them while they are feeding, you never know how critical the food supply is or if they are also feeding their young.  The photos are great but not worth adversely impacting these magnificent birds.

Overheated Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron was hot!  He's got the mouth open and the wings are down and away from the body to help cool him off.  I guess they don't think of taking a dip, maybe it's the gators or something.  I took the shot on the shoreline of Big Lake Harris in Central Florida.

Black Crowned Night Heron

There is an ongoing debate about identifying photos of birds taken in controlled circumstances such as zoos.  I always do but I can see the argument against it as well.  Photography is about the image and not the methods.  I don't look at images as some kind of trophy that proves I got within some magical distance.  Given the super-telephoto lenses, the crop factor of DX cameras and the plethora of software allowing significant cropping of the image and subsequent enlargement I don't know what you prove by close head shots.  I still prefer images that include some habitat but in this case the habitat was very artificial and detracted from the image.  This photo was taken at the Jacksonville Zoo and although the bird is not captive it is very accustomed to people and easy to get close to.  I have some images of wild birds where I was this close or closer but it took some time and in the end they came to me as much as I went to them.  I hesitate to disturb birds by always trying to get close, inevitably you don't know when you've crossed the line until the bird flies away.

Green Heron

The Green Heron, aka Greenbacked Heron, is a ferocious hunter.  In my observations I rarely see them wade in the water but usually sit just above the water and stare intently for prey.  They have the most intense yellow eyes and are very wary of people.  I took this shot at a boat ramp on Lake Harris in Leesburg.  The greenie stayed very calm because he was on the opposite side of a canal and I apparently couldn't get within his safety zone.  I see these rarely compared to the other species of herons and egrets but it's always a pleasure when I do.

Great Blue Heron

I never tire of photographing these birds.  I shot this one during a brief stop at the Oleta River State Park in the Miami, Florida area.  This is a unique park in that you have to be very careful not to include any of the numerous high rise condos that litter the Key Biscayne area.  The park had very few visitors except for a group of about 30 employees from some unnamed business undergoing "team building exercises".  I watched them for a few minutes and it brought back all the reasons I'm thankful not to be in that world any longer.  I'll stick to animals.