Snowy Egret Portrait at Farmington BaySnowy Egret Portrait at Farmington Bay – Nikon D810, f8, 1/2000, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

Farmington Bay’s Snowy Egrets were the birds I photographed most yesterday because they were cooperative and because they were active, very active. One of the Snowy Egrets did fly in, walked along the shoreline and got much closer than I thought it would. As many of you know given the opportunity I will delight in taking portraits of birds because I don’t have that many chances to do that and because I love seeing the fine details of the head, eyes and bill of birds.

Snowy Egret Close UpSnowy Egret Close Up – Nikon D810, f8, 1/2500, ISO 250, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

This egret is in nonbreeding plumage and even though its bill looks a bit of a mess but I like the intense look I appeared to be getting from the bird.

Snowy Egret chasing after another snowy in a territorial disputeSnowy Egret chasing after another snowy in a territorial dispute – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/4000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

The Snowy Egrets were busy fishing and having territorial disputes yesterday and that was fun to observe and photograph. This egret was chasing another egret across the water when I photographed it with its crown feathers raised as they often do when they are being territorial.

I also took some images of one egret that had captured a weather loach with the other egrets and gulls chasing it that I will post another day.

Things are picking up bird wise at Farmington Bay.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Snowy Egret photos plus facts and information about this species.

By the way, the injured Barn Owl is doing very well and the Montana Raptor Conservation Center expects to be able to release him within the next two weeks.