Great White Egrets

[TimmyGator]

Found several nesting and showing off at a nearby lake...some with chicks and some stilll waiting!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5571877959_2f3da74aab_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5572467928_f88a8b2d73_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5572471478_80a8861b16_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5572467738_d86039505a_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5572467484_5d7a07f418_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5066/5571877351_f12a53e29e_b.jpg

[mdonahoe1]

Unbelievable! Great capture! I love the first and last the most!

Marianne

[delboy]

What great bird photography Tim, I am envious of these, cannot fault them. #1 I like best, but like the way #3 is back lit highlighting the birds beak.

Regards

Delboy.

[Kaye]

Tim, what an absolutely fantastic series.
Great timing catching them showing off like this - you have captured incredible detail in each.
I love the great contrast of the white against the dark background in No. 2, and I just love No. 4 :D

[shirlm2]

Absolutely beautiful shots Tim. Such a great capture #1. I love the "punk" hairdos of the chicks.

[Bambe]

these are lovely shots! My favourite is #3.

[DoctorJazz]

Thanks for sharing these incredible images Tim!
The first two, just spectacular, and the fourth is so great the way you have framed the chick's face with the twigs.
The last is such a great perspective of chick and parent bird.
Inspiring work!!

[TimmyGator]

Thank you all!
I'll give you the story behind these images.
I often hop on the bicycle and go on "photo rides". It's a great way to get where you wanna go without the restrictions of an auto or the
time it takes to walk. On this particular ride out to a favorite spot, I noticed several "white spots" off the beaten path and waayyyy in the distance in some trees.
I was only able to ride about half the distance as the ground got a little marshy, so I took to foot.
As I drew nearer, I could tell there were egrets and herons all around this little lake. I snapped a few shots and decided to climb an old
oak (I keep the photo gear in a backpack). About 20 feet up there was a branch extending out over the area with a concentration of
Herons and egrets at eye level and below. At the end and between two branches, someone had nailed in a little bench!
The majority of these shots came from that awesome perch, most with my 400mm lens.
About half the time I just watched as these beautiful birds came and went, carrying nesting materials and food for the babies. What a show!
Here's a few more from that day. I most certainly will be going back.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5571882209_112352f218_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5572470334_03e68dd6b7_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5572470484_5354002b08_b.jpg

Even caught an Osprey "fishin".....

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5572469066_f17d605dfb_b.jpg

[Kaye]

Good story and fantastic series again Tim. Well worth the climb. I'd be going back there often!
Your focus on these is just perfect.

[eyerkish]

Tim, these shots are nothing short of fantastic - all of them! And what a great story to go with it. I can certainly appreciate the lengths you went to in order to get these shots and I'm glad those efforts were rewarded. Awesome job!!

[pipedesign]

These are truly something to be proud of ...... very very professional.
Sad that the EXIF data is not there so some of us can think about the next trip out

[eskdalemum]

Beautiful photo's and it looks like you just found a great spot to return to and take more photo's. I really hope you can go back soon so we can see more of these chicks growing :)