Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Viera Wetlands 4/6/12

Friday's adgenda didn't include a trip to the wetlands, but somehow we ended there anyway. Many of the winter time visitors are now noticeably absent, especially the ducks. Blue-winged Teals were the only species I noticed. I did encounter this American Bittern who spotted me at precisely the same time I spotted him. The Bittern immediately struck a pose in an attempt to camouflage itself in the reeds. I took one quick photo from the car and moved right along.

American Bittern
Viera Wetlands

The next stop was near the herons. I once again arrived as a heron parent was arriving to deliver a meal. The juvenile Great Blue Herons went into a frenzy as they waited to be fed. They repeatedly grabbed and stabbed at their parent and once the food arrived the frenzy became between the two young birds. They ended up in a tug a war match with the fish with one chick being victorious as it swallowed the whole thing. The sibling seemed less than pleased and poked around the nest for any crumbs.









An Anhinga family that nests on the lower part of the same palm as the herons was visible today. These chicks seemed to be making similar demands, although much less aggressively.



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35 comments:

  1. UnknownApril 10, 2012 at 4:58 AM

    Preciosas fotos de las garzas (como siempre) y espectacular el camuflaje de la primera.
    Saludos!!

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  2. KaHollyApril 10, 2012 at 4:59 AM

    I esp. love seeing your pictures of the Great Blue Heron babies. There's a rookery near my house, but it isn't accessible, so I just have to imagine. Now I can easily picture in my mind! Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. TammyApril 10, 2012 at 6:32 PM

      Thank you for your comments! We are lucky to have the herons nesting at the wetlands!!

      Delete
  3. Kenny IsakssonApril 10, 2012 at 6:08 AM

    Very nice photos Tammy, as always...
    The Bittern are very special bird, we call it "Rördrom" in Swedish not easy for you to pronouse I think. And The Heron (Häger) is always cool to look at.
    Greetings / Kenny

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    1. TammyApril 10, 2012 at 6:34 PM

      Thanks so much Kenny! I definitely could not pronounce the Swedish words, but it is very interesting to see the different words used for these bird! Thanks for sharing.

      Delete
  4. RonApril 10, 2012 at 7:11 AM

    This is another great series of shots! Can I ask, what lens were you using?

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    1. TammyApril 10, 2012 at 6:34 PM

      Thank you Ron! I was using a 400 mm 5.6 (Canon).

      Delete
  5. Brian KingApril 10, 2012 at 7:56 AM

    The herons are doing great! Growing like weeds! Love that Bittern shot...if I don't look at her, she won't see me. LOL!

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    Replies
    1. TammyApril 10, 2012 at 6:35 PM

      They do grow fast, and it would be long till I stop by and there gone...

      Delete
  6. Bob BushellApril 10, 2012 at 8:30 AM

    You caught a Bittern, it's beautiful, well done, is it rare like ours is?

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    Replies
    1. TammyApril 10, 2012 at 6:36 PM

      The bittern here is not rare, but it can be very elusive.

      Delete
  7. Marc HeathApril 10, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    That Bittern shot is perfect, what a pose as well.

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  8. rachelle vance photographyApril 10, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    great interaction! and that elusive bittern shot is awesome~

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  9. Ingemar PetterssonApril 10, 2012 at 10:49 AM

    Hi Tammy!
    Lovely photos of all this lovley birds.
    Greetings from Sweden
    /ingemar

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  10. Lorents H BlomsethApril 10, 2012 at 11:16 AM

    Hi again Tammy !
    There you are back with some action from the Heron's nest. Number 2 is my favourite, but all of them are "cought in the action". Good work again as usual!

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  11. Scott SimmonsApril 10, 2012 at 11:28 AM

    Those hereon chicks just keep getting bigger! I need to get back out there. Nice photo of the American Bittern too.

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  12. TexWisGirlApril 10, 2012 at 12:52 PM

    wow, those babies are HUGE! i'd just drop the meal from up above and let them duke it out. :)

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  13. FABApril 10, 2012 at 1:39 PM

    Super feeding action series at the high rise nest Tammy ... AND the Bittern perfectly posed just for you.

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  14. Mia McPhersonApril 10, 2012 at 1:51 PM

    I'm truly enjoying watching these young herons grow up through your images Tammy!

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  15. dwaynejavaApril 10, 2012 at 4:13 PM

    Tammy, I'm jealous of the American Bittern. I still haven't seen one! :-P
    Great shots!
    -Dwayne

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  16. CameraCruiseApril 10, 2012 at 4:51 PM

    Great series of beautiful photos, love all of them.
    It's so great to see how the herons are doing.

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  17. Maureen Leong-KeeApril 10, 2012 at 7:22 PM

    Fantastic American Bittern shot! And what a great series of pics of those juvenile Great Blues. I can almost hear them squawking and fighting over that fish =)

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  18. Millhouse PhotographyApril 11, 2012 at 1:03 AM

    More magnificent heron images Tammy and the Bittern is a cracker. Not hard to see why the wetlands draw you so.

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  19. pennyApril 11, 2012 at 5:16 AM

    Isn't it amazing how the birds blend right in with their surroundings for protection.
    Gorgeous captures, Tammy.

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  20. Jen SanfordApril 11, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    Amazing photos of the herons and the anhingas! It's so cool to see the young so clearly, I am so glad you are sharing these!

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  21. Cynthia WhiteApril 11, 2012 at 3:22 PM

    Wonderful images!

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  22. Kathie BrownApril 11, 2012 at 4:59 PM

    Amazing photography and documentation of the parents feeding their young! Well done Tammy!

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  23. Pasión por las avesApril 11, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    Hola Tammy,otra sesion fotografica magnifica como siempre.Un abrazo

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  24. NoushkaApril 12, 2012 at 12:34 AM

    A wonderful sets of photos on the parenting of the chicks!
    But the Bittern picture is most amazing, the bird is so difficult to spot let alone photograph! Impressive!
    Congrats!!

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  25. Jesús CastellanoApril 13, 2012 at 3:45 AM

    Hola Tammy, regreso después de unos días de descanso y estoy hachando un vistazo a tus últimas entradas, muy buenas todas y bien captados todos esos momentos tan interesantes, también advierto que tu objetivo tiene un buen estabilizador que te permite hacer fotos desde el coche como en esta primera foto, o que tienes un pulso excelente. Muy buenas tomas.

    Saludos.

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  26. GiancarloApril 16, 2012 at 7:36 AM

    bellissime fotografie come sempre, sei molto brava!! buon inizio settimana...ciao

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  27. FerlynxSeptember 16, 2012 at 6:52 AM

    Muy buena entrada de las garzas, saludos.

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I greatly appreciate your comments!

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