Reddish Egret hunting along the Gulf Coast, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaReddish Egret hunting along the Gulf Coast of Florida – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 120mm, natural light

Recently I posted images of a Tricolored Heron and a Black-bellied Plover where I wrote that I enjoyed images that include habitat, the same could be said about this photo of a Reddish Egret hunting on the shoreline  of the Gulf Coast. The out of focus trees in the background give just a hint of the habitat I might find a Reddish Egret in without the trees being a distraction. The focus is entirely on the large wading bird but I like the visual interest of the trees and the distant horizon of the Gulf of Mexico.

This Reddish Egret came in so close to me that I had to continually back up my zoom, I guess it had no concerns about the one-eyed crazy woman laying in the shallow waves at the shore.

Mia