Barn Swallows
I tried photographing Barn Swallows during a two-week period back in May.
They are quite the acrobats! And quite the challenge!
Here are five shots I liked the best.
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallows
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow collecting nesting materials
Barn Swallows are the most abundant and widely distributed swallow species in the world. They breed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and winter in much of the Southern Hemisphere.
Tricolored Heron Takes A Bath
I love capturing bird behavior, including they’re taking time for a bath.
So how does a long-legged shorebird take a bath in shallow water?
This Tricolored Heron shows it’s not difficult!
Tricolored Heron squats down to begin a quick bath
Tricolored Heron swooshing its body in the water
Not getting those wings wet
Wingspread for balance standing back up
Tricolored Heron feeling more refreshed
Still not sure how they keep their white feathers so clean! 😉
Little Blue Heron – Adults & Juveniles
The Little Blue Heron is the least flashiest of the North American herons with it’s dull slate blue and purplish-red coloring.
Which is the reason the Little Blue Heron was actually spared from the hunting frenzy that decimated other heron and egret populations during the feathered-hat fashion craze of the early twentieth century. Their dark plumes weren’t desired thankfully!
Little Blue Heron adult
Little Blue Heron adult
Little Blue Heron adult feet
Little Blue Heron adult
The first year of life, the Little Blue Heron is actually white and often confused with the Snowy Egret.
Little Blue Heron juvenile
Little Blue Heron juvenile
Little Blue Heron – almost adulthood!
I lucked out with a juvenile Little Blue Heron foraging around a Snowy Egret. You can see they are quite similar in size and looks. The quickest ID difference is the beak (the egret’s black vs. the heron’s slate blue tipped with black) and the heron missing the egret’s yellow lore.
Snowy Egret (left) and Juvenile Little Blue Heron (right)
Just four frames later an adult Little Blue Heron flew at the juvenile heron above, forcing it into flight. The adult followed/chased it out of my sight. Maybe someone was being scolded for wandering off! 😉
Adult Little Blue Heron chasing juvenile Little Blue Heron
The dark Little Blue Heron isn’t the easiest to photograph, hopefully I shared their own shining beauty to you!
(All photos were taken January through March 2020 in Florida)
Great Blue Herons – Habitat, Profile & Close-Up
Three photos of the Great Blue Heron….
Great Blue Heron “Florida Habitat”
Great Blue Heron “Stalk Profile”
Great Blue Heron “Close-Up”
From distance to close-up, the Great Blue Heron is always picturesque!
Series: Take A Moment and Enjoy A Sunset
It’s been too long since I’ve shared a sunset for you to enjoy!
There wasn’t a big sky shot for this sunset I took last summer, so I photographed it closer to get its moody grandeur full frame.
Sunset over Cambridge Creek, Maryland
White Ibis
Even with the vast numbers of these birds throughout the southeastern United States, White Ibis are among one the favorites of many.
White Ibis (adult)
White Ibis (juvenile)
Adult White Ibis Juvenile White Ibis
These photos were shot about two hours before sunset.
White Ibis
Smile!
From another day that was cloudy.
White Ibis in Flight
(the last one is a juvenile)
(Photos taken February 2020 in Everglades City, Florida)
Monarch Butterfly and a Chipmunk
Not only did I succeed with photographing two birds the other day in the park, I also took some non-bird subject photos and really liked how these two turned out.
Monarch Butterfly
Chipmunk saying, “Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone!”
Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird
At the same park I found the Tufted Titmouse in my previous post, there was another area with a boardwalk overlooking a pond.
We stopped and stood for few minutes, watching and listening. Hubby then moved on, and maybe his movement down the boardwalk is what sent this next bird my way. 😉
Because it was then I heard the chirp of a hummingbird coming at me from hubby’s direction.
Looking down, there she was, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, darting here, there, everywhere, drinking from the tiny wildflowers.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (female)
And then…..as they always do…..she was gone!
Tufted Titmouse
Temperatures in Indiana have subsided from the 90’s into more comfortable high 70’s/low 80s for a few days, so we decided to check out a small park to get in some nature walking (and hopefully me some birding).
The birds were there but keeping their hiding spot a secret. I had my eye on this young Tufted Titmouse flitting from branch to branch, playing ‘cat and mouse’ with me as I tried to get a photo.
And then it flew to an open branch and lingered just long enough….. Click!
Tufted Titmouse
And then the Tufted Titmouse was gone! It’s been a long time since I’ve captured this species, so I am tickled with this photo.
Brown Pelican Fly-By
I didn’t see this Brown Pelican coming from my left until it was right in front of me, full frame.
So close, I heard the wings flap with a ‘whoosh‘!
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
With a massive wingspan of 6.5 – 7 feet, these large birds are masterful flyers, flying at speeds up to 30 mph!
(Photos taken February 2020 at 10,000 Islands NWR, Everglades, Florida)
Bay Photos by Donna 