Over the water, the life of a Tricolored Heron

For the Great Egret

A Reddish Egret takes a stroll through the tidal pools at Fred Howard Park

A trio of Snowy Egrets perch on a snag.

A North American River Otter looks up from lunch on hearing a stick breaking under my foot.

A Roseate Spoonbill splits his attention between me and something lurking in the ditch behind.

Came across this cool looking original VW bug on our ride today. I had to stop to take a shot as the gang kept going. It was worth the effort to catch them

This Snowy Egret is fresh from breeding season

A male Anhinga wants to know what we're doing.

Swamp Sparrows here seem to always hide instead of popping out, even when called. Imagine my surprise when this one poked out twice!

A White-eyed Vireo spies prey nearby

A Marbled Godwit drifts by on the wind at Fred Howard Beach

A young Wood Stork stands with a stray feather in the soft morning light

A droplet comes off a Snowy Egret's beak mid-flight

A Snowy Egret gets things sorted out.

A brown pelican glides along the Fred Howard Park Causeway out to the Gulf of Mexico, creating a great silhouette against the orange sky of sunset.

And you won't get your pants wet Tricolored Heron

A Little Blue Heron closely inspects a rain puddle in the grass for tasty snacks.

This little Yellow-rumped Warbler decided to pop out and check us out.

A Carolina Wren wonders where its mate ran off too.

A Black Skimmer shakes loose the water from skimming mid-flight

A very inquisitive Roseate Spoonbill approaches.

An Anhinga braves the cold, rain, and wind to keep watch on her pond.

A Tricolored Heron pauses as the water ripples and flows in the background.

Summer Tanagers really stand out

Three Snowy Egrets keep an eye out from their favorite snag.

I accidentally interrupted this Turkey Vulture's dinner along the trail, and he made sure to give me a look as I went along.

A Little Blue Heron enters a controlled fall, stepping off a stump.

More like Palm Tree Shrike! Seriously, I rarely see them anywhere else.

A Tricolored Heron gracefully dives to the water

A Roseate Spoonbill cruises back to join the other waders.

A male Pileated Woodpecker watches his mate head off

A Little Blue Heron stares determinedly at the flooded field, willing frogs to appear.

A new storm is bearing down on us even as we rebuild from the outskirts of Helene which left home and some of our favorite natural places forever changed. We’ll work on being safe (and hopefully still be sharing with you all here!) but there may be slowdowns. Already I see a change in behavior by the wildlife here.

I know it's quite the anthropomorphization, but I find myself empathizing a lot with the imagined troubles of this Roseate Spoonbill today as we both try and figure out how to get out of a bad situation.

A Tricolored Heron conspicuously keeps its feet out of the cold waters below as it watches for prey.

A Gulf Fritillary takes a deep sip from a blazing star

A Reddish Egret puts on a show as he whirls around in the early afternoon sun mid-hunt

A Snowy Egret crosses the pool

No seriously, I'm curious if birds like this Tricolored Heron can see through the nictating membrane or third eyelid.

It's the more dangerous of the two when it comes to Anhingas.

A Great Egret and I endure a downpour

A Green Heron perches at the tallest part of the snag

A Snowy Egret stands proud on his tree, ready to launch at a Little Blue Heron perched in a nearby snag.

A young Roseate Spoonbill relaxes by still waters.

A Red-shouldered Hawk skulks in the dense foliage watching for prey.

A Tricolored Heron stands and watches for a good catch.