A Roseate Spoonbill cruises back to join the other waders.

A Green Heron freezes in surprise

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.

A Tricolored Heron stands in tall water and reflects.

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.

A Snowy Egret lurks in the shadows, his only companion his reflection.

A juvenile Little Blue Heron stalks through the mud and shallow water of a drying stream bed, looking for food.

An Osprey rises into the air after an unsuccessful dive, trailing water.

Thinks the Tufted Titmouse

A Roseate Spoonbill gets fiesty

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A River Otter has its work cut out for it with this catch.

An Osprey bursts into the sky.

Hopefully he didn't mind his portrait being taken.

A Tricolored Heron hastily retreats to the shore with his bounty.

This Little Blue Heron was frozen stiff in the cold afternoon winds.

This Tricolored Heron presents his prize.

A Green Heron stays focused

With a White Ibis

From a Snowy Egret scaring off a Little Blue Heron

Just couldn't resist this streaky blue background with the Little Blue Heron in front.

I've never had a Yellow-crowned Night Heron get so close before, even if it was just to walk around me!

Manny, our resident Anhinga, was not happy to have us over to "his" shoreline.

The water behind this Tricolored Heron gave a great simple grey background for his portrait.

A Black Skimmer runs it's beak along the surface of the still waters.

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail alights and feeds in Brooker Creek Preserve

A Roseate Spoonbill takes up near some yellow flowers on the shoreline.

A White-eyed Vireo stays very alert

Gold and blue were my old school colors. Marbled Godwit and Blue would've been a better combination.

Looks like you need a little hole drilled here

And no where to go for this Snowy Egret

For us, that would mean a cool drink at 7-11. For this juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, it's a tasty fish carcass he found.