Wednesday, February 9, 2011

A fine feathered friend

We spent the last day with our guests at Sanibel Island. It was a glorious day in many ways - the weather was sunny, and warm once we moved to the lee side of the island, we saw dolphins cavorting just off shore, and a number of birds came by to entertain us. Among the feathered entertainers were a few snowy egrets, smaller cousins of the great egret. They weren't shy by any means, having likely grown quite accustomed to the many visitors. I was able to walk to within a few feet of one of them, and they seemed to mingle quite easily with other two-legged beings on the fishing pier.

(next 2 photos - 70-200mm  f11  1/500 sec  ISO200)


(70-200mm  f5.6  1/1250 sec  ISO200)

note my snowy egret friend mingling with the crowd on the pier waiting for a fishy morsel (this fish was released after the requisite photos were made)


26 comments:

darlin said...

I love these photos Rick, the clarity is unreal. Beautiful sunshiney weather I see, wow absolutely stunning! I'd best put on my sunglasses when I come to visit your blog! :-)

My sister was recommending the 70-200mm, now that makes two lenses I want. I've been watching which lenses others are shooting with and now I can see what a difference a lens can make.

Have a fantastic evening!

cindyzlogic said...

Great shots, Rick! I really like the Egret standing on the pier :-)

Carolyn Ford said...

I LOVE snowy egrets! And, I really like how you put the top 2 photos together...this bird is missing its body, Rick! Love the feet!

ju-north said...

Ooh - those (bird's) feet!!

Marty said...

quelles belles photos d'une belle journée !
comme tous les bons pêcheurs le font, le poisson retourne dans l'eau ! cool !
il y a un épais brouillard ici ce matin pouhh !
je t'envoie plein de bisous Rick ! merci de tes
visites ! they make my day !

joey said...

Great egret shots, Rick. Never been to Sanibel but know the beach for shelling is the best!

Ruth Hiebert said...

What an incredible experience.I would fill up a memory card so quickly,if I were there.Thanks for blessing me with your kind comments.
Ruth

Rick said...

Thanks Darlene. This is also one of my favourite lenses (actually, every lens I own is a favourite ;-) It cost me an entire year's worth of refereeing, but it was so worth it. I also got a 2x extender so the lens can actually be a 140-400mm. And Sanibel is a beautiful place. Enjoy the rest of the week - hopefully it's a little warmer there.

Thank you Cindy - I have a few other shots of this little guy just strutting through the crowd, muttering 'excuse me, excuse me'.

Ha ha, thanks Carolyn (actually I have a number of shots of the complete bird but these were my favourites); I was about 4 feet from him when I made these 2 photos.

I thought they were very interesting too Julia !

Rick said...

Ah Marty - merci beaucoup. Yes, a beautiful day in so many ways, and lots of two-legged company ;-) Thank you for your regular visits and comments and I'll send some sunny bisous to drive that fog away !

Thank you very much joey; we haven't had much luck shelling there - I think because they're all picked before we arrive !

Thank you Ruth - I can't curb my photographic enthusiasm at places like this, sometimes much to the chagrin of my companions ;-) And as for encouragement, I feel it's the least I can do. I hope you have a peaceful day.

Michelle said...

Sounds so fantastic. Great shots!

Anonymous said...

Amazing they'll let ya get so close & that's a wonderful shot of his face... so crisp & clear!
Look at those bare feet... I wish it was warm enough to go barefoot around here... COME ON SPRING! =)

Leslie said...

Love those yellow feet : )

S. Etole said...

The feet ... yes! the feet!

Unknown said...

The second picture is really funny, reminds me of cartoons, the crab perspective of things :-D

Greetz,


Joseph

imac said...

Super Rick, you lucky lot.its rained all day today.

Cat said...

My parents lived in Coral Cay for a few years and we enjoyed a few visits to Sanibel Island...I can just feel the warm sand! I love that shot of the egrets feet - very whimsical!

Rick said...

Thank you Farmchick !

Thanks Tricia - I was amazed too that I could get so close, but you should have seen him strut through the crowd on the pier - like he owned the place ! ;-)

Thanks Leslie (so did I ;-)

Ha ha Susan - no wonder he was so sure of himself.

Rick said...

LOL Joseph - that would make an interesting series - "a crab's perspective of the world" ;-)

Thanks Stewart - it's pouring here tonight too (hope you feel better ;-)

Thanks Cat- he was quite a whimsical character, so it 'stands' to reason ;-)

magda said...

Wonderful pictures, very nice legs !!! haha
Greetings

Soraia said...

Beautiful! :D

Rick said...

LOL Magda ! FYI - they're NOT mine ;-) Thank you !

Thanks Soraia !

You can never take too many pictures said...

Love the shot of it's feet......so nice to see bird shots when my world is so white, cold and frozen....I do enjoy the big Ravens and also spotted my first Bald Eagle a few weeks ago....much to my chagrin... No Camera!!!!!

The temps here are starting their spring pattern, with single digits during the day and double digits at night....it will soon be Maple Syrup time!!!!!

Thanks for sharing......

Rick said...

Thank you Susan. Too bad about the ravens and Bald Eagle ! One of the first things I really learned doing a 365 last year was ABC (Always Bring Camera !) - no regrets. Maple Syrup time - the best time - usually early March when the temps are just right. Enjoy !

Anonymous said...

Lovely dtuff Rick!

Anonymous said...

*stuff ; )

Rick said...

Got you, Avery ;-) Thanks !