A friend invited me to join him for a trip to a couple of nature photo hot spots in nearby Sarasota, FL and I am sure glad he did! I had been to Venice Rookery only once before and there was not much happening at my last visit. This time there were two Great Blue Heron couples that were excellent subjects. The first pair were taking turns feeding the chicks while the other pair were busy building a nest. In the first photo of this set, the light was just right to showcase how blue a Great Blue Heron's wings can look under the right conditions. The Great Egrets were also fun to watch at the rookery. Although they are mainly white, the colors on their face and beak become more vibrant when they are mating and the displays of plumage are spectacular. The last two images in this series are from the other location we visited -- Celery Fields. I had left my teleconverter on the telephoto lens, so I ended up with very close shots which did not include the whole bird, but do allow for an appreciation of the detail in their feathers.
Thank you, Ken for a great day of bird photography!
Returning with the goods
A wild kiss
The proud parents
A meal of eel
Teamwork
Raging Hormones
Demure
Great Egret, Great Display
Purple Gallinule
