Avery Island Egrets and the Alligators who protect them

PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
edited May 15, 2011 in Wildlife
My wonderful husband gave me a new 500mm lens for my birthday. So far my one practice time was mid day (awful light) and birds flying the wrong direction, but it was still fun! :D

1) The platforms where the egrets nest, built above a swamp:

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2) Young Great Egrets (not the most beautiful, are they?)

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3)

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4) Snowy egret in flight (black beak and legs, with yellow feet):

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5) Bodyguard Alligator that keeps raccoons and other predators from swimming out to prey on the egrets:

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Comments

  • PeterBirdPeterBird Registered Users Posts: 84 Big grins
    edited May 10, 2011
    That was some birthday present! It looks like you are going to make good use of it. Love the heron shots!
    Peter
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2011
    Now that's a fine B-day gift. You will have some fun with that new glass. Very good set especially the chicks.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2011
    Pam that was a very nice gift to get on a special day, and I really like #3 It has the cute factor to it. Have fun with the new lens.
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Peter, thank you! You are right--that is some birthday present! Planning to practice some more this weekend. Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Harryb wrote: »
    Now that's a fine B-day gift. You will have some fun with that new glass. Very good set especially the chicks.

    Thanks, Harry! Edmund is the best, for sure, and the most generous husband ever. I'm hoping to get better photos of a snowy egret and maybe some fawns this weekend. Of course, no one will ever take a better photo than yours of the snowy in flight. Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Dennis Kaczor wrote: »
    Pam that was a very nice gift to get on a special day, and I really like #3 It has the cute factor to it. Have fun with the new lens.

    Thanks, Dennis! There were a couple of really great things about that birthday gift: First, my birthday isn't for another month, and second, my sweet husband not only got it for me, but can sometimes be persuaded to carry it. That 500mm lens is HEAVY!
  • Debashis_A_ghoshDebashis_A_ghosh Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Wonderful gift and you are already churning out good stuff.
    Debashis Ghosh

    My Flickr

    EOS 700D, 100 mm f/2.8 Macro USM,
    EF-S 55-250 F/4-5.6 IS, EF-50 f/1.8,
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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Cool shots and interesting too! thumb.gif
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 11, 2011
    Congrats on the new lens, Pam. You got some terrific shots with it already. clap.gif
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • ashruggedashrugged Registered Users Posts: 345 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Excellent Pam, keep posting
    Robert

    http://rckimaging.smugmug.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Debashis_A_ghosh wrote: »
    Wonderful gift and you are already churning out good stuff.

    Thank you, Debashis! I've never been to Thailand, but one of my aunts was once the counsel general for the U.S. there. I've always heard it is such a beautiful country! Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    Ric Grupe wrote: »
    Cool shots and interesting too! thumb.gif

    Thanks, Ric! I'm learning from you guys, little by little. Many thanks for all the help. Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 11, 2011
    ashrugged wrote: »
    Excellent Pam, keep posting

    Thank you for the encouragement, Robert. The fawns are starting to appear, so I am hoping to get some shots this weekend. Best, Pam
  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2011
    Excellent set of shots, Pam. Love the chicks.

    I find that first photo of the man made nesting platforms interesting. I have never seen those before.........
    My Photo Gallery
    http://ira-runyan.artistwebsites.com/index.html

    Florida Wildlife & Nature Photography
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 12, 2011
    IraRunyan wrote: »
    Excellent set of shots, Pam. Love the chicks.

    I find that first photo of the man made nesting platforms interesting. I have never seen those before.........

    Ira, I'm not sure exactly when the platforms were built, but my husband's great uncle, E. A. "Ned" McIlhenny, founded Bird City around 1895. The egrets, especially the Snowy Egrets, faced possible extinction because they were being killed in droves so their feathers could be used to decorate women's hats. Ned went out into the marsh, and after 3 days found a few young chicks, and raised them in a flying cage that he built where the platforms are now. Later that year, he released them, they flew off, but returned the next spring, and each year since, bringing more and more birds with them. Of course, there were many others involved in efforts to save the beautiful birds.

    Best, Pam
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2011
    Congrats on the new lens and another B-day. Don't forget to remind your husband my birthday is in September so he can start saving now. *-) Nice set of pics Pam. What a nice day that must have been.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • MikeAldrichMikeAldrich Registered Users Posts: 145 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2011
    Wonderful captures and a wonderful Bday present! Those nesting platforms are great, must be an awesome place to go shooting. I love the last image of the gator in the green stuff, better watch out for that guy!
    “The digital camera is a great invention because it allows us to reminisce. Instantly.” -Demetri Martin

    http://www.shuttershockphotobooth.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2011
    kdog wrote: »
    Congrats on the new lens, Pam. You got some terrific shots with it already. clap.gif

    Thank you, Joel! I enjoy taking people and landscape photos, but wildlife is just the most fun to me. Always a treasure hunt. Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2011
    Osprey Whisperer wrote: »
    Congrats on the new lens and another B-day. Don't forget to remind your husband my birthday is in September so he can start saving now. *-) Nice set of pics Pam. What a nice day that must have been.

    Thanks, Mike! My husband's birthday is also in September, so it will be easy for him to remember yours! I love spring here because the weather is usually nice and not too hot, and we have so many birds. Best, Pam
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2011
    MikeAldrich wrote: »
    Wonderful captures and a wonderful Bday present! Those nesting platforms are great, must be an awesome place to go shooting. I love the last image of the gator in the green stuff, better watch out for that guy!

    Thanks, Mike! I am really enjoying my birthday lens. What a great husband I have. I'm with you on the gators, although Harry tells me they are relatively harmless. Jungle Gardens is a beautiful place to shoot, especially in the spring. Best, Pam
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2011
    you do know that the birds know the size of your lens and now will stay 600mm from you :D good shooting have fun
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2011
    jwear wrote: »
    you do know that the birds know the size of your lens and now will stay 600mm from you :D good shooting have fun

    Jeff, I am so glad you told me! Actually, I was noticing that exact phenomenon this afternoon.

    Best, Pam
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