I was up early today. Well, I'm actually up early nearly every day, but let's just say I was up and out of the house early today for a change. So around 8:00 a.m., I decided to head to Huntington Beach State Park.
It was like hitting the wildlife jackpot this morning. I saw 4 types of herons, 2 types of egrets, about 20 alligators, a pair of ibis and more. I couldn't snap photos fast enough to catch all the action around me. It was quite an amazing morning.
I tried looking up the herons online, but I couldn't find a website that included all types with photos so I'm going to have to guess at what they are. I believe the first few photos are of tri-colored herons. They're a smaller bird and nowhere near the size of egrets or great blue herons.
There were so many alligators at the shoreline feeding that I had to take video to do the scene justice.
I shot about 240 photos and ditched about 35 bad ones. So this essay again is only a small fraction of what I have from this morning.
This egret photo below just makes me laugh. They really look funny when you see them head-on like this.
I think the heron below is a green-backed heron. It's head definitely had a shimery emerald color to it.
It's too bad I couldn't get closer to the birds above to get better photos of them. Not sure what type of heron the one is in the front of the image, but it had a pinkish/rose head. The bird with its wings spread is one that I've seen Rose take photos of before. I just can't remember how to spell its name.
The ibis were difficult to shoot cause they kept pecking the mud, making it hard to focus and also the sun was rising behind them. So I was shooting more into the sun that I would have liked to.
I have a few single shots and videos from this park visit that I'll also be posting.
Thanks for looking at my work.
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Comments: 54
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse_tax.aspx?family=10
The other bird - Anhinga. I've yet to see one of these. I guess I've got to get to HBSP early.
Beautiful photos and great finds on your morning venture.
Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
Yes, you'll just have to get up before the sun one of these days.
Thank you for posting to Pretty Pictures.
Hey...it looks like you passed up a great opportunity for a swim.
Thanks for bringing another world to us through your work, as always!
Thanks for posting to *My Bird Shots*!
Amazing bird photos...and wow...what a clear shot of the dragonfly...
You're the first person on here that actually inspired myself and Mark to take photos, (though had to get a camera first, details, you know!), but after drooling over yours and we still do, you take incredible photos, we're struggling along..., but having fun with it all too!
Those gators, I was so proud of myself as I didn't want to see one, or two, or any...for making 4 1/2 years +, without ever seeing a one! They truly grow their bugs HUGE there too. I do love the birds, we sure don't have them in Connecticut!
And here, you're right on the beach too...argh! YES, I'm jealous :=D
Marilyn
I think one day we'll discover that in your real life, you're a National Geographic photographer!
Sometimes I get two in a shot, but this was a fantastic mornings photo bounty:)
The black and white bird is an Anhinga (in the Kormoran family) and the one with the pink or reddish I've seen called a blue heron, but Kat called it a reddish heron. The coloring varies a lot with the light and the bird itself. I have seen some that were pink with blue/grey and others that were practically maroon and dark blue/grey.
Three alligators in one shot - that is just amazing.
Herons, Egrets, Anhingas and Ibis...oh my. (And alligators and dragonflies for kicks...woo hoo)