Since returning from Alaska I've spent the bulk of my time with my nose pointed in the general direction of a computer monitor working on a couple of projects. I have managed to break away to do a little photography since it is Spring now and birds in Florida are doing a bit of breeding. The intent of the original expedition was to try and catch some Anhingas in color but the most accessible group close to me are in a lousy spot to make the most effective use of light (or fighting to find a hole in the branches of the trees where they are nesting). If I could only walk on water I'd be fine at that spot.
Speaking of walking on water, as I began to make my way toward the car in frustration one day earlier this week along came this Tricolored Heron who proceeded to put on an interesting foraging display for me. So I decided to hang around and see what I could make of the goings on. While not the first time I had seen a member of the Heron/Egret family engage in this type of foraging behavior, it was the first time I really had the chance to do anything with it in a photographic sense. What follows are the results of two different visits to the "lake" at the Port Orange (FL) City Center. The images are more or less in order as to how things transpire, though not exactly in order in a strict chronological sense - they are from a couple of different days, times, and camera angles.
The Tricolored would patiently stand surveying the scene from rocks along the shore. It soon became apparent when "launch" was near by observing the birds posture, leaning forward and staring quite intently at one specific spot in the water. And then liftoff. . .
(click on an image to view larger)
Off it would go, maybe 12-15 feet before coming back. In this shot it had made the turn and plunged its head down into the water . . .
This didn't happen a lot and several minutes would pass between flights, this image being one of the rare times that a catch was made . . .
What I like about the image below in particular is that it is possible to see the looping path the bird has taken in the water - out and then back with a sweeping turn to the left . . .
The trickiest part was not knowing when to expect the turn back to the shore. I'd been panning to my left then have to quickly come back to the right. Then sometimes "we" would turn right instead of left and after the first few frames all there was to see were wings and tail feathers.The whole episode lasts but 3 or 4 seconds and is a pretty good example of why some of the great wildlife action photos you see are often days or weeks and thousands of exposures in the making.
It certainly was fun to watch, so much so that I went back yesterday but spent nearly all the time I could stay watching the Tricolor standing on a rock self-regulating, one foot tucked away then switching to the other a couple of minutes later.
If the sun was shining I'd be at it again today.
All I want is a shot with the bill just a few inches above the water.
With a fish.
And razor sharp.
Not that I'm greedy or anything.
