This Green Heron just couldn’t decide: ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ He would stretch his neck up, begin to leave then compress that magical slinky neck down and relax for a few seconds before doing it again. Finally, he stretched his neck way out and took to the air. Green Herons are often amusing, chasing each other around, making strange sounds, fishing from low branches or from the air and working that magical neck. Lots of fun. I’ll be offline for a bit but wanted to wish everybody a wonderful New Year. See you in ’25! (Butorides virescens) (Sony a1ii, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/3200, ISO 1600)
Tags: Peaceful Waters Sanctuary Green Heron Butorides virescens outstretched neck neck flying duckweed Sony a1ii Sony a1M2
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This is from my last encounter with a bobcat, well over a month ago. They are amazing cats that one is always quite fortunate to see. I am normally too restless to stake out an area where they have been seen but was lucky on this occasion to get a shout out from Michael L, who sets his target on something and sticks with it, and got there in time to get some shots. As you can see, it has what look like a severe cataract in one eye. Thanks Mike! (Lynx rufus) (Sony a9iii, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/5000 second, ISO 400)
Tags: Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee NWR Lynx rufus bobcat loxahatchee cataract Sony a9iii a9M3
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I’m making progress getting my new Sony a1ii dialed in and am loving it. There wasn’t a lot of action at the wetlands today but this Tricolored Heron gave us a flyby over gorgeous water and I love when they dip their wings, in this case both. I wonder if it’s like sticking your hand out of a car window to feel the wind. (Egretta tricolor) (Sony a1ii, 200-600 lens @ 571mm, 1/2500 second, f/7.1, ISO 1250)
Tags: wakodahatcehee Tricolored heron Egretta tricolor wing drag dark water reflection Sony a1ii
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I’ve spent a lot of time with this pair of mating Great Blue Herons. Some days they’re active, others not. The male is slightly larger, on the right, bringing a stick to his mate for the nest. She takes the nesting material, which sometimes he’s reluctant to release, and gets to the nest building. They have various bonding behaviors. Sometimes the female displays by stretching her neck up and calling, followed by a squat into the nest. The male often grooms the female, reaching over her neck which makes a nice spectacle for us voyeurs. I chose this image for the nice heart shape formed by their necks as he presents her with a stick for the nest. (Ardea herodias) (Sony a9iii, 400mm, f/2.8, 1/5000 second, ISO 250)
Tags: Blue Great Blue Heron Sony a9iii mating nesting pair Ardea herodias Wakodahatchee
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We’ve found (meaning other sharp eyed people found) two of this interesting bird in fairly dense vegetation. Its name comes from its call: Chuck-will’s-widow. I played the call on the internet and somewhat get the connection. It is in the nightjar family and hunts at night, finding the same or nearly the same branch to sleep on during the day. I visited it several times and was rewarded only with closed or partially open eyes. Finally, it was active: if you can call it that. It would rock sideways, look around, scratch and go back to sleep. I counted myself lucky. Reminded me of how I sleep, without the rocking that is. I read that it eats insects as well as small birds and bats. Now that would be something to see. Its bill is small, as shown by the image, but opens wide. (Antrostomus carolinensis) (Sony a9iii, 200-600 lens @ 600mm, 1/80 second, f/6.3, ISO 3200)
Tags: Antrostomus carolinensis Chuck-will's-widow Green Cay nightjar Sony a9iii
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