Great Blue Heron

27 02 2009

I don’t consider myself a wildlife or bird photographer in the least. In fact, I actually prefer landscape the most but I won’t turn down an opportunity if it presents itself.

While I was walking along the beach on Lido Key just west of Sarasota, I came across this Great Blue Heron fishing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. He seemed more interested in feeding than he was in me and that gave me a chance to grab this close up photo.

Great Blue Heron





Dangerous Reflection

21 02 2009

During my annual winter trip to Florida to visit family I planned to get out and take some nature photos.

I jumped in the car one morning and struck out for Myakka River State Park which I have been to in the past and have had some success.

At my first stop I was worried since I had always seen alligators at that location but there were none to be found at that time. I moved on and stopped at the damn where during my last visit a year earlier all I found was water, birds and a cool breeze. This time I was very lucky to find eight gators either on the shore sunning themselves or lurking in the water. I took over one-hundred photos at this location alone.

As I was heading out of the park I decided to try the first location one more time. This turned out to be a good idea as I came across two more alligators relaxing at the water’s edge. In this photo below you see the younger of the two predators casting an ominous reflection in the calm waters.

Dangerous Reflection