Series: Take A Moment and Enjoy A Sunset
Let’s escape away, down to Key Largo…..
Sunset over Blackwater Sound, Key Largo
Sunset over Blackwater Sound, Key Largo
Sunset over Blackwater Sound, Key Largo
(next night)
“Enjoy the beauty of a sunset nature’s farewell kiss for the night.” – Sharon Rene
Wood Storks
A gallery sharing more of my recent favorite images of the Wood Stork.
Check out those pink feet!
(to view larger, click on an image to begin a slideshow)
Wood Stork “Balancing Act”
Wood Stork “Steppin’ Out”
Wood Stork “Preening”
Wood Stork “Reflections”
Wood Stork “Flight 1”
Wood Stork “Flight 2”
Wood Storks
Osprey Hanging Out To Dry
There are several established Osprey nests in Everglades City. Incubating is in full swing at each of them.
Near one of the nests, I found the incubating Osprey’s mate perched nearby on guard duty and air-drying.
Someone got a bath or hopefully had just caught and delivered a fish to it’s mate in the nest!
Osprey Drying
A little flapping to help speed up the drying….
Osprey Flapping Wings to Dry
“Touchdown!”
Osprey Flapping Wings to Dry
After all the flapping, it was back to guard duty and sunning.
Beautiful & Refreshed
(Osprey looking over to its mate and nest)
Great Egret Stalks A Lizard
A stalking Great Egret was quicker than I. I saw it focused, but the egret was looking straight ahead and not down at the water’s edge.
What was he focused on?
A couple more steps, and the Great Egret reached out with that long neck and grabbed a lizard off a palm tree trunk.
The Great Egret had the lizard before I got my first shot.
Great Egret with a lizard for a meal
I took over 30 photos and selected six more from them to show how the egret handled his meal, holding it tight and then shifting it.
Great Egret eating a lizard
And down the hatch the poor little lizard went….
Series: Take A Moment and Enjoy A Sunset
One sunset, three phases, from three locations…..
Sunset over Barron River
Five minutes later, further down the river….
Sunset over Barron River
Another eight minutes, just a little further down the river.
Sunset over Barron River
“My joy is the golden sunset giving thanks for another day.” – Jonathan Lockwood
Royal Terns
I’ve captured the Royal Tern before in past years, but found I hadn’t listed it on my lifer list. Bad slip on my part!
This time I’m not missing the chance, adding the Royal Tern as #197.
I found Royal Terns in their non-breeding plumage around the Everglades NP Gulf Coast location. They favored the channel markers.
Royal Terns
Royal Terns
Royal Terns
Royal Terns are graceful flyers and reside along warm saltwater coasts.
Royal Tern
Royal Tern
Royal Tern
Royal Tern in flight
Royal Terns Close-up
Don’t you just love those shaggy crests?!! 🙂
Tricolored Heron
The Tricolored Heron is a medium-sized and strikingly slim heron with a long, daggerlike bill.
Tricolored Heron
Tricolored Herons in mangroves at sunset
Tricolored Heron at sunrise
Tricolored Heron at sunrise
The Tricolored Heron is elegant in its blue-gray, lavender and white plumage. And what a beautiful red eye.
Tricolored Heron closeup
Tricolored Heron Reflection
Tricolored Heron getting excited for another one landing nearby
Ah, bird love is in the air in the Everglades!
Snowy Egret With The Golden Slippers
Another Egret plentiful in Florida is the elegant Snowy Egret. They are easily identifiable with their bright yellow feet or “golden slippers”.
Snowy Egret in flight
Snowy Egret landing
Snowy Egret Portrait
Snowy Egrets use their bright yellow feet to stir up or probe in the mud, rounding up prey to strike with its bill.
Snowy Egret stirring its feet while stalking for prey
Snowy Egret with a snack
Although the front of their legs are black, the back of the Snowy Egrets’ legs are yellow like their feet as seen in the next photo.
Snowy Egret
So stylish with those “golden slippers”….
Snowy Egret going down an embankment to the water
Want to see those “golden slippers” up close?
(click on photos to enlarge)
Snowy Egret feet
Snowy Egret feet
Snowy Egret feet
Snowy Egret feet
Snowy Egret’s yellow feet or “golden slippers”
With the breeding season beginning, those feet will brighten even more!
A Snowy Egret spots another Snowy Egret – it’s breeding time!
Blue-winged Teal
I’ve photographed Blue-winged Teal before, but only at a great distance.
So it was exciting to find them closer to the shoreline at the 10,000 Islands NWR in the Everglades NP.
Warning…..photo overload!
Blue-winged Teal among the mangroves at 10,000 Islands NWR
The ops got even better when a few pairs would break away from the group and come in closer.
Blue-winged Teal (male leading female)
Blue-wing Teal
Blue-winged Teal
During one of my morning visits, the entire flock took flight, one group after another.
Blue-winged Teal in flight
They turned their flight slightly more to the left, and flew on by me.
Blue -winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
I stayed with them as much as I could. It is always exciting to get a flock in flight!
Sorry, too many favorites, just two more of the male.
Blue-winged Teal (male)
Blue-winged Teal
P.S. I’ll be absent from the internet for a few days, I’ll catch up soon as I can when I return!
Limpkin
I almost missed this tropical bird, a Limpkin, foraging a freshwater swamp.
Although it resembles herons and ibises in general form, the Limpkin is generally considered to be more closely related to rails and cranes.
Limpkin
The Limpkin was hunting for apple snails (its favorite), frogs, lizards, and crustaceans.
Limpkin with snack
Limpkin foraging
Limpkin foraging
Limpkin foraging
“Fluffin’ the Feathers”
Although it resembles herons and ibises in general form, the Limpkin is generally considered to be more closely related to rails and cranes.
Limpkin
— Photos taken in Big Cypress National Preserve.
(An update, I have taken photos before of this beautiful, tropical bird but found out that the Limpkin was still not on my lifer list. Sooooo…..the Limpkin now is my #196.)
Bay Photos by Donna 