On a quiet Saturday in early April, I escaped to Lake Morton for a few hours of springtime bird photography.  While most of the ducks had left already, a bunch of Ruddy Ducks were still around.  The males were sporting their bright blue bills.  One was splashing in the water not too far from shore.  I sat down and waited, knowing that a wing flap would follow…and it did!

A pair of Wood Ducks meandered in the grass.  The Wood Ducks at Lake Morton are very accustomed to people, but I was still surprised when they let me approach them to photograph them.

I settled down in the grass watching the lake on a good light angle.  A few American White Pelicans were still lingering at the lake.  A few of them were practicing their water-skiing skills…

The White Ibises were in their bright breeding colors.  I love their bright red beaks and legs at this time of year!  One flew by and obligingly gave me a good head angle. :)

It was quite a pleasure to run into Herman and his friends, who were also photographing at the lake that morning.  We had a good time with a Boat-tailed Grackle who had posed nicely at the top of a flowering trumpet tree.  His feathers shone a glossy blue as he sang a courtship song for all to hear.

Herman has always loved the “ugly” birds like Wood Storks and vultures.  After chatting with him, I spotted a Wood Stork standing quietly at the lake shore.  I spent some time with the bird doing some close-ups.  He has such an ancient, wise-looking face!

A juvenile Muscovy Duckling was out for a walk with his mom.  They walked all over the grass, biting at the mosquitos in the air.  I caught the baby with a bite in his mouth!

My dad recently informed me that his photography life list is lacking in certain common birds, like American Crow and Fish Crow.  We had a good chuckle over the fact that he can enhance his life list right in his own backyard!  So when I spotted a crow looking for nesting material, I laid down and got some good shots.  He finally decided that the moss was a little too much for him to carry off.

All in all, it was an excellent morning.  By the time I headed back to my car, I was a little tired from my early morning drive.  Apparently I wasn’t the only one who needed a nap!