And the Winner of the Biggest Stick Competition Is…

Posted Jess YarnellPosted in Oakland Nature Preserve

I headed out to Orlando Wetlands in mid-March with my 600mm lens, teleconverters, and monopod. I’ve found that a monopod works a lot better than a tripod on a busy boardwalk. I was saddened to see that the Roseate Spoonbill nests close to the boardwalk were gone. I wonder if a raccoon or something got to the birds. But there was still plenty of action with the birds bringing in sticks. Maybe the birds are trying to re-nest. They certainly seemed to be having a competition for who could bring in the biggest stick!

This guy was disqualified. He had a beautiful flight pose but no stick.

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

Fourth place goes to this Roseate Spoonbill with a decent-sized stick. The birds were so pretty flying in front of a clump of green trees.

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

Third prize goes to this Spoonie who chose the Golden Hour to escort his stick with moss across the marsh.

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

Second place goes to…hey, wait, you’re not a Roseate Spoonbill! Only pink birds are eligible for this competition.

Wood Stork
Wood Stork

Second place goes to this Roseate Spoonbill whose stick was almost as wide as his wingspan. He seems to have found an interesting center of gravity while flying with his stick!

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

Finally the first place prize goes to this Roseate Spoonbill in gorgeous full breeding plumage whose feathers glistened in the sun as he carried a giant stick across the marsh. That stick is bigger than he is! He somehow managed to keep hold of it all the way back to his nest.

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

A Fish Tale from Lake Morton

Posted Jess Yarnell1 CommentPosted in Lake Morton

As I headed back to my car after photographing the American White Pelicans, I came across a funny scene.

Meet Mr. Laughing Gull. He’s looking spiffy in his breeding colors. Plus he’s sporting a big fish that he just caught.

Gulls Fighting Over Fish
Laughing Gull with Fish

Not far behind him is Mr. Ring-billed Gull. He has his eyes on the prize. Why catch his own fish when he can steal from the laughing gull?

Gulls Fighting Over Fish
Ring-billed Gull in Close Pursuit

Oops! The Laughing Gull drops his prize. Poor fish! He’s really not having a good day.

Gulls Fighting Over Fish
Laughing Gull Drops the Fish

After a flutter of wings, a small splash, and a bigger splash, the Ring-billed Gull emerged triumphant. He promptly flew off with his prize. I wonder if he got to eat it, or if some other gull stole it?

Gulls Fighting Over Fish
Ring-billed Gull Gets the Fish

Return to the Golden Light: American White Pelican Head Shots

Posted Jess Yarnell3 CommentsPosted in Lake Morton

The last time I visited Lake Morton, I was dazzled with golden light and American White Pelican head shots. The light faded so quickly that I resolved to return on another morning before sunrise for a second opportunity with these beautiful birds. Getting up early definitely paid off!

Normally the pelicans hang out on a brick wall on the lake shore. When I got there before sunrise, I found the flock floating on the lake. Most of the birds were half asleep. The pale sky reflected in the lake and gave a pretty pink tone to the background.

American White Pelican
American White Pelican

As the sun started to rise, the birds woke up. The sleepy pelicans began to paddle toward their favorite brick wall. They waddled up the lake shore and assumed their favorite positions, lining up side by side as the water behind them glowed.

American White Pelican Juxtaposition
American White Pelican Juxtaposition

Having so many birds in close proximity can actually be a challenge. Sometimes you want to isolate one bird’s head when he’s preening at just the right angle, but his buddy on the right has stretched a wing in your golden background. You also don’t notice just how much pelicans move until you try to frame a perfect head shot!

American White Pelican
American White Pelican Head Shot

This was in early March, and the pelicans were starting to come into their breeding plumage. Look for the bright yellow around the eyes, and the orange/red tones on the neck. Also the bump on the beak is part of the breeding attire. Do the pelicans consider a big bump on the beak to be attractive?

American White Pelican
American White Pelican

The water reflections were pure magic at one point in the lake. Look at how the red and blue background tones contrast with the pelican. This is one patriotic bird!

Red, White, and Blue (American White Pelican)
Red, White, and Blue (American White Pelican)

After the sunrise, I moved to get a perfect sun angle on the left-mode pelican. Look at the bright red markings around his eye! I loved how his blue eye coordinated with the pale blue water of the lake. His white feathers glisten in the early morning light.

American White Pelican
American White Pelican Head Shot

I noticed several birds throwing their pouches straight up in the air. I think this is part of their courtship ritual. It’s pretty fast, so hard to catch if you are not already focused on the bird, but I got a few good frames.

American White Pelican
American White Pelican – Beaks Up!

Almost all my best shots from that morning were American White Pelicans. But as I hiked back to my car, I did come across another pair of birds that made me laugh out loud. Come back for the next post and I’ll share the fish tale!