This Snowy Egret heads back to shore after fishing in the shallow Gulf Coast waters. There’s some speculation those bright yellow feet may actually help the Snowy Egret catch fish off guard.
These birds were once prized for their beautiful plumage and the fashion industry hunted them to the to the brink of extinction in the late 19th century. They’ve made a wonderful comeback and are fairly common now.
Two Brown Pelicans patrolled the waters off the Gulf Coast of Florida. One of them decided its next meal was waiting below.
I tracked this Brown Pelican in my camera as it came soaring in from the Gulf Of Mexico. As luck would have it the pelican decided to land on the beach just in front of me. There’s no substitute for being in the right place at the right time.
Forster’s Terns soar above the water hunting for their prey. When they see a potential target they hover briefly to take a closer look. One they’ve decided to pursue their target they dive, nearly straight down, and splash into the water to make the catch. This one was eyeing a possible meal above the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Willets are pretty common along the beaches of the southeastern United States, at least during the winter months. I sat on a Gulf Coast beach in Florida and watched a fairly large flock resting well above the water line. The pictures I took of the larger group didn’t really do much for me. They were simply too busy. This smaller group of three made for a much cleaner composition.
During a recent trip to the Florida Gulf Coast I was watching several Forster’s Terns as they hunted above the gulf. When they spotted a potential catch, they would hover for a second before diving, nearly straight down, into the water. I took lots of photos of them flying and hovering before I was able to capture this one just before it splashed into the water.
I saw this Brown Pelican standing on some rocks by the shore while I was visiting Bonita Springs, Florida. The pelican practically posed as I approached with my camera.
Brown Pelicans are a little funny looking but when I’m at the beach I love watching them soar along in the wind. They frequently glide along, just above the waves, in small groups and seem to have perfected the art of efficient flight.
Up and on the beach early one morning in late August I watched these two sanderlings interacting. It wasn’t clear whether this was some type of courtship display or a standoff over which bird had domain over the beach.
The color, texture and quality of light drew me in to get photos of this buoy, washed up among dried reeds.
Doug Couvillion's Photo Blog 