Pic of the Day

Tricolored Heron, Egretta tricolor (immature):  Viera Wetlands: Viera, Florida

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/3200 second @ f8

Pic of the Day

  Green-backed Heron – Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands; Viera, Florida:  As I drove along the west side of a water impoundment at the Ritch Grissom wetlands in Viera, Florida I notice a photographer busy taking photos.  As I drove past I could see that she was taking photos of a Green-backed Heron.   The setting was very nice, but not wanting to disturb the photographer I drove on past about 300 feet and parked.  My plan was to back-up to the site when the photographer had finished and shoot the heron my self.  It was not long until I saw the photographer pack-up, get in her vehicle and leave.  But before I could get back to the spot, another photographer pulled-up and began to shoot.  Still I waited.  After five or ten minutes the second photographer left and I was able to back-up to the spot where the heron stood.  Much to my pleasant surprise the green-backed was still there, patiently waiting for a fish to swim by.

In slow motion I pulled all my gear together and slid down the road bank to the waters level and began to shoot.  The heron was motionless at it perched atop lily pads that were in various stages of flowering.  I shot a few photos as the bird lay in wait.  Like lighting it suddenly lunged forward and came up with a minnow.  Then it arose from its fishing spot, walked a few feet left, then right, and back left before settling in to a slightly different spot.  I photographed the heron from about fifteen minutes as it moved across the lily pads.  The heron was most patient with me, and my wait for the opportunity was well worth the time it took.  

Nikon D7000, Nikor 500mm f4, Digital Capture ISO 200, 1/1000 secon @ f 9

Pic of the Day

   Ringed-necked Duck – Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands; Viera, Florida:  Ringed-necked ducks have always been one of my favorite duck species.  The male with its gray flanks set against a purple black back and breast, accented with a white flank strips and ringed bill is visually stunning.  Though the female wears a dress of brown feathers, her white-eye and bill ring gives her a subtle beauty that makes her the perfect complement to the male.

   In the wild it is usually difficult to get close to ducks, but at protected sanctuaries and preserves they can be very approachable.  As I drove the auto trail at the Ritch Grissom wetlands I spotted these ring-necks feeding in the shallows close to the road.

   I pulled the van past the ducks and parked, got out and stealthily slid down to the waters edge about a hundred feet from them. With my camera already on a tripod I sat down on the ground and hoped that the ducks would move toward me as they fed.

While waiting for the ducks to swim toward me a Limpkin landed in the reeds right in front of me and began plucking apple snails from the water.  I could not believe my good fortune as the Limpkin presented me with a great photo opportunity. 

   While I was shooting the Limpkin, another wildlife watcher stopped to look at the Ring-necks.  In doing so the ducks began to swim toward me as if I were not even there.  As they came within range I began to shoot.  As I began shooting the sun broke through clouds, bathing the ducks in the warm glowing light of a retiring sun.  As I have said so many times in previous post, I love it when everything comes together.  That evening I photographed these ring-necked ducks, it could not have been more perfect.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4, Digital Capture ISO 200, 1/400 sec. @ f9