Tag: #greatwhiteegret

Great White Egret’s Live Catch

This Great White Egret strode purposefully across my path at the Naples Botanical Garden. I squatted down low and focused my camera on his back-lit body, hoping to capture some action. As both the egret and I followed our instincts, we were both rewarded. Catching a wriggling lizard in its beak, the great egret found dinner, and I got my image of the day.

#greategret, #lizard, #catch, #freshcatch, #livecatch, #foodchain, #backlit, #nikon, #naplesbotanicalgarden, #botanicalgarden, #wildlife, #wildlifephotography, #egret, #nature, #florida
Late afternoon sunlight outlines the Great White Egret as he captures a lizard in his beak. Naples Botanical Garden 2020.

Great Egret’s Angelic Wings

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.

#egret, #wings, #feathers, #angel, #angelic, #greategret, #whiteegret, #lake, #light, #nature, #wildlife, #birds, #birdphotography, #white,#outdoorphotography, #wildlifephotography, #naplesflorida, #wadingbirds, #morninglight
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.

Egret in Profile

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!)

#egret, #wings, #whitewings, #greategret, #action, #wildllife, #outdoorphotography, #wildlifephotography, #anticipate, #howto, #secretsofsuccess, #lucky, #naplesflorida, #golfcourse
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!

Cleared for Take-Off

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.

#egret, #whiteegret, #greatwhite, #greatamericanegret, #wings, #takeoff, #flight, #birdphotography, #naturephotography, #wildlife, #howto, #nikon, #tamron, #outdoorphotography, #morningsun, #sunlit, #llittoralplants, #golfcourse, #contest, #photography,
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.

Aggressive behavior on the golf course

I was lucky to have my camera focused on this Tricolor Heron when the Great White Egret landed alongside and began to intimidate him. The egret scared the daylights out of the heron, and the heron’s crown feathers stood up on end! I captured a series of photos of the interaction, but the heron appeared a tiny bit blurred in some of the photos, because he was running from fear. I’m not sure if the egret wanted the heron’s fishing spot, but I have seen these egrets get aggressive with each other. Drama in the life of a wading bird! And so early in the morning!  It was fun to witness and capture these  images.

#egret, #heron, #aggression, #birds, #drama, #feathers, #getout, #birdphotography, #nature, #wildlife
“Yikes! I’m out of here!,” the Tricolor Heron seems to cry, as his crown feathers stood up straight.

 

Eye-Catching Great White Egret

Funny how it works. In our human culture, the females wear the jewels, curl and color their hair and purchase sparkly, provocative dresses — all an effort to be noticed by the right male. In the bird kingdom, it’s just the opposite. The females wear camouflage (dull) colors so they can protect the young in the nest, while the males get dolled up in breeding plumage to attract a mate.

#greatwhiteegret, #feathers, #birds, #mating, #breeding, #plumage, #naples, #florida, #egret
This Great White Egret is looking handsome with breeding plumage and a bright green mask.

 

Great White in Flight

If I were a painter of an angel’s wings, I would imagine the ethereal wings of angels to resemble those of the Great White Egret in flight.

#wings, #feathers, #egret, #florida, #birds, #flight, #angel
As the Great White Egret takes flight, water droplets fall from his feet, and his outstretched wings appear at once delicate, strong and pure.