He Got a BIG Fish!

 

The heron goes to the same spot on the pond in Elizabeth Park every day.  

I think I am developing a heron habit.

Blue Flag Iris

At the Elizabeth Park pond in West Hartford.

No Fish Today

I went looking for the great blue heron yesterday.  He was in the same place, across the pond.

He took off again, but this time he left without catching a fish.

I kept firing as he flew across the back edge of the pond and out of sight.  I might have had
 15 - 20 good, sharp photos of the heron in flight.  How to choose?



"With difficulty" is the answer.

Heron and Fish

I watched a great blue heron across the small pond in Elizabeth Park, too far to photograph well.  

He dove, grabbed a small fish, and circled the pond to show me his meal.

Springtime

Azalea

Dogwood

Rhododendron

Japanese maple

And elephant leaf magnolia

West Hartford is Grateful

Many of the houses I see in West Hartford have a "heart" or "Thank You" sign outside.

I particularly like the hand-made ones.

The most common signs are mass printed "Thank You" signs.

Memorial Day

Why, yes, I have left southwest Florida and am back in New England.  How could you tell?

Today is Memorial Day, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.  Veterans Day (in November) honors those who served in the U.S. military.

Sandpiper

The beaches are open again in southwest Florida.

Ducks

"What do I have to do to get your attention?"

Chow Time

Weekend Reflections.

Starling

A starling sat on a birdhouse, sometimes peeking inside, sometimes chirping.

Duck

This duck and three others in its family never move from their spot.

Royal Poinciana Tree

It is a pleasure seeing the royal poinciana trees bursting out in their deep orange blooms this spring.

A Very Big Bug

While I was standing on grass under the osprey featured for the last two days, I felt something on my leg.  Looking down, I saw a VERY big bug, maybe 3 inches long.  I shook it off and it lay stunned. 

I am not certain what it is, but it might be a black lubber grasshopper.

 In Florida one encounters lots of exotic things.

More of the Osprey

When you are close, you realize that ospreys are very big birds.

And their glare is ominous.

And sometimes professorial.

When they bow their heads it is tempting to think they are praying,

but they are probably just looking for ticks.

Osprey

In nearly half an hour of watching, the osprey wouldn't fly away,

but sometimes it flapped its wings for exercise.

Great Blue Heron

And . . . off she goes.

Duck

Off she goes.

A Meal for an Anhinga

It wasn't clear to me what the anhinga was trying to get down its gullet, but it was working hard at it.

I love it when I find wildlife eating or flying or preening.  Yes, photographs of a bird standing still and posing for me are fun (and easier), but I get more excited when they move and I catch the action.

Osprey

Two small birds chased an osprey right past me.

A Fly-In

An ibis was jealous of the attention the roseate spoonbill was getting.