Radiance at the Rookery!
This also could be titled - Light, Camera, Action! I just returned from 12 days away - the first 7 days with family in Florida and the last 5 days with my brother David on Little St. Simons Island in Georgia. Over 95% % of the photos that I will share with you over a number of posts would not be possible without my sister-in-law Tami in Florida or my brother David on our Georgia trip - thank you, thank you! And none of these photos would be possible without Brian. Brian works with me via Zoom every other weekend to help me with all sort of things related to my photography and my ability to share with you through these posts - thank you, Brian!
Let’s start with my first morning outing with Tami at the Venice, Florida Rookery.
Tami was game for getting up very early and heading to different spots on a number of mornings. Each morning she picked me up - it was pitch dark. Wherever she had in mind was great with me. She decided we should go to the Venice Rookery for our first outing - she had never been. We drove in the darkness and of course arrived well before sunrise. We parked the car and crossed the road to a very short walkway and walked passed a little pavilion. This is not a fenced-in area - this is a natural place that happens to have everything all of these birds are looking for to rest, nest and/or mate. In the early morning darkness we saw blobs of white everywhere in front of us - Egrets roosting! :). We were blown away at how many birds were resting/roosting on the vegetation in the middle of the little pond and along the perimeter in the trees and vegetation. The noise they were making instantly brought smiles to our faces. I have never been to a rookery so this was all new to me. Another amazing thing about this particular place - we could see with unobstructed views to the middle of the pond and parts of the perimeter - I did not have to fight to look through anything - it was all right there in front of us! I kept thinking… when the sun comes up and we can actually see everything this is going to blow our minds - and it did!
I am sharing a lot more photos than I usually do in these posts because everything lined up for me just so beautifully. So sit back and relax - I hope you enjoy the show as much as I enjoy sharing it with all of you. Please enjoy a few minutes of escape from everything -
As the light started to slowly get better we could make out many more kinds of birds roosting everywhere - I kept looking over my shoulder to see that the time for sunrise was getting closer and closer…..
It happened… the sun came up from behind the trees directly behind us - the light exploded in all of its glory and the birds became much more active and started to fly in and out and around! It was a big challenge for me to calm my breathing and figure out where to focus and who to concentrate on as there was so much happening all at once! My decision was made for me as an absolutely spectacular Black-crowned Night Heron caught my eye and I locked on to get this series-
He changed his mind and flew around the vegetation out of my sight for a split second and then came back into view!
Another loop around right in front of me!
and again!
As soon as the Black-crowned was out of my view I saw this beautiful Great Egret in the back corner of the pond…
Looking to my left I saw this Great Blue Heron lighting up! Hard to see - but look right below and to the right of his legs - 2 little ones!
And now look below…. :)
Another Great Blue Heron flew in and landed directly across from us on the backside of the pond!
Flew right down in front of me - a beautiful Great Egret!
Coming back around -
Found the perfect stick to add to the nest -
Guess who? The Black-crowned flew over again to check things out
And kept on flying and landed on the backside of the pond -
Another Black-crowned Night Heron came flying in!
The end!