outdoor photography

Great Blue Heron This morning I drove to the marina on Lake Monroe.  It was about this time of year that a Royal Tern showed up here last year, and I thought it might be worth checking to see if it might have returned.  I didn't find it, but I did see a Great Blue Heron.  It looked like it was just standing there, not too interested in fishing.  But as I was taking a few shots, it lunged forward and plunged its head into the water.  It came out with pretty large Needlefish.  At first I thought it was a gar, but one of my friends gave me a positive ID. Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron He only stood in the water with the gar for a few seconds. Almost immediately, he flew onto the grass so that he could begin the process of killing and consuming his prey. Great Blue Heron He repeatedly stabbed the fish, puncturing its head and ensuring that it was good and dead. This seems to explain why he wanted to fly onto the grass.  This way the ...

Osprey Last month at Overlook Park I saw an Osprey fly by.  This happens so frequently that I usually don't bother to take a photo. However, this time looked a little different.  I put my binoculars on the bird and noticed that it was carrying a Needlefish.  I can't imagine that this is good eating, but I suppose when you're an Osprey, you eat what you catch.  The fishermen at the park weren't catching anything, so the Osprey was certainly having a better day.