“I’m hungry, Mama!” seems to be the universal cry of the baby. Just look at those big yellow beaks on the young American Egrets in the nest. I just love their scruffy appearance as the new feathers develop. They are neither elegant or silent yet — characteristic of the adults.
Young American Egrets call out from their nest in Venice, Florida, 2023.Family of three American Egrets (Great Egrets). Baby egret spreads its developing wings, while the parent guards the nest. Venice Florida, 2023.
These baby egrets have not fledged yet and depend on the parents to deliver food. They seem to be getting restless as they wait for their feathers to develop. It is exciting to witness the dynamics of nesting season in Southwest Florida.
Along with Easter and the arrival of Spring comes the bird nesting season. The Great Egret, also known as the American Egret, grows the most beautiful breeding plumage this time of year, and those long white feathers make a dramatic display.
Great Egret in breeding plumage seen in a rookery in Venice, Florida.Great Egret standing tall to display its beautiful feathers in Venice, Florida, 2023.
Follow this blog to see new images of the baby egrets in the nest, coming soon. For information on purchasing prints, please email cathykellyphotography@mail.com.
While we are staying “safer at home,” I’m looking through the images I captured in February and uncovering a few hidden gems. I have found new examples of why it really pays off to wake up in the dark and get on location as the sun rises. The reflections on the lake makes this egret look regal.
Great White Egret catches a tiny fish while dawn’s early lights paints the lake with color.
This image is similar to one I blogged about in February, but it’s different with the fish in the egret’s bill. Here is another frame from moments later.
Walking about in the shallows and dunking its head, this Great Egret makes circular ripples in the lake.
This Great Egret is no Narcissist. He’s just foraging for fish on a Tuesday morning. But his clear reflection in the lake reminded me of the Greek Myth about Narcissus, the character who fell in love with his reflection. This moment frozen in time in a still image gives the impression that the egret may have stared at his reflection for a few minutes. Of course, this moment passed in an instant.
This morning the colors reflected in the water and the ripples surrounding our Great Egret gave this image a unique ethereal quality. The smooth white egret and its reflection contrast with the color and texture of the water, bringing our eye to rest on the bird and its mirror image.
Great Egret looks beneath the water for fish, while I quietly capture the reflections and ripples on the surface. Naples, FL 2020.
If I were asked to paint the wings of an angel, I would use the Great White Egret as my model. Their grace and pure white color seem like a perfect fit.
My third photo in a series that features the Great White Egret with its wings extended and lit by the morning sun. Naples, Florida, February 2020.
I would love to hear from you, my readers, on your favorite image of the three. Here are the other two:
This image shows the Great White Egret with wings outstretched. Naples, FL 2020.As the Great White Egret settles in the littoral plants, its large white wings are seen in profile. Naples, FL 2020.
Wildlife doesn’t pose, and it doesn’t wait for you. To become a successful wildlife photographer, you need to be prepared, have some knowledge of animal behavior, be prepared and anticipate what may happen next. (These rules also apply to candid photography of people too!)
Early Monday morning, this Great White Egret was fishing in this golf course lake. I was following his movements with my camera set at 1/1000 second and 600mm lens focused, poised for the moment that the bird stretched his wings. I was happy with the backlighting of the sun.
The other axiom I say to myself often is: the more often you go out, the luckier you get. Put another way, if you stay home, you won’t get the shot, for sure!
Watching and waiting for this Great White Egret to take off, I was rewarded by this sighting of outstretched white wings. With my Nikon camera shutter set at 1/1000 second, I was prepared to capture this image to share with you.
Early morning sun shines through the white egrets wing feathers, as the egret lifts off from the littoral plants.
Since I also set my Nikon D800 on “continuous-high,” I have two more great frames to share. You can help me decide which one is best. I will submit one or two of these photos to the Royal Poinciana Members’ Photography Contest. The submitted photos have to be shot on the property.
I don’t think this Great Egret gives a hoot about his reflection, but I do! I was pleased with the detail in the reflection — which is equal if not better than the detail in the egret himself.
One of those times that I realize the Nikon 70-200mm lens was worth every penny. Great Egret seen in Pelican Bay, Naples, Florida.
I will upload the full size (63MB) image to my website, if you want to make a print. The detail in those white feathers would really show off in a large print!
Today is a rainy day in Southwest Florida, and I’m packing up for my own migration back to Pennsylvania. I’m definitely sad to leave. Looking back on my photographs in the Everglades, I found another series of three photos of the Great Egret lifting off from the swamp, showing its beautiful wings outstretched.
Keeping my camera poised on the Great Egret standing, I caught the moment that its feet left the water. Shark Valley, Everglades National Park. Observe the feathers stretched out to create a wide fan shape, as the Great Egret clears the trees. Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, April 2019.Final view of the Great Egret from below, its neck tucked in for flight. Shark Valley, Everglades National Park.
On my recent visit to Shark Valley in Everglades National Park, I challenged myself to photograph the Great Egret and the Great Blue Heron in flight. Both wading birds are large and beautiful while standing still or wading in the shallows, but their look is entirely different when they take flight and display their enormous wing spans.
My friend Caroline, who accompanied me on this 15-mile bike trip, noticed the exquisite silence around us as we observed the birds and watched them fish and eventually take flight. I needed to keep my lens focused on the bird, as without warning and without a sound, it would take flight. If I looked away, I would be too late to capture take-off. Freezing action and maintaining focus on the egret in flight was a serious challenge!
Here is a series of three photographs taken in quick succession. I enjoy the brilliant feathers from each angle.
Silent lift-off of the Great Egret in the grass of the Everglades. Shark Valley, South Florida.American Egret uses its massive wings in a graceful arch to gain more height. Its long black legs extend behind. Everglades National Park, Florida.Great Egret tucks its neck and reaches for the sky as it flies above the Everglades in Florida.
Blog: Cathy Kelly Photography 