Strolling Yellow-crowned Night Heron – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1500, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
It has now been 4 days since I have been out in the field to photograph birds, longer than that if I subtract the day I went up north and came home with nothing but soft images because of air disturbance caused by heat waves, cabin fever has begun to set in and I have grown tired of these leaden gray skies. It looks like I need to get through today, tomorrow and the next day before there “might” be enough light on Friday to go out looking for birds to photograph.
Weather January 10, 2017
The screen shot above shows the weather here this morning and the cruddy stuff heading my way. I am where that red arrow and aqua dot is. Nice, right? The left side of the frame is where the Pacific coast is, there is plenty of rocky weather heading this way. I really don’t want to sound like I am complaining because the more moisture we get the better in this desert state especially up in the mountains where high levels of snow can mean a good spring run off to fill the reservoirs and maybe even raise the water elevation in the Great Salt Lake but day after day of gray does get to me a bit and it makes me think back on brighter, warmer days.
So this morning my mind drifted back to June of 2009, to a bright, warm day on the Gulf coast of Florida and a strolling Yellow-crowned Night Heron that I photographed as waves churned up behind it. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron came up on me while I was photographing a few shorebirds and I couldn’t resist taking a few photos as it casually walked past me on a ridge of sand heading south towards a lagoon. As I recall I pretty much had the beach and the birds to myself that morning and I was delighted by that and the soothing sound of the waves meeting the shore. It was a great morning spent following my passion for bird photography.
I have a ton of culling to get caught up on so I will work on that today while the gray clouds hang over the valley. If I stay busy the time will seem like it goes by faster.
Life is good.
Mia
Good luck.
It is hot, hot, hot here, and I would welcome some grey, some moisture and some coolth.
Wonderful image of the heron. Makes me long for a south sea island. Patty, have you tried wool fingerless gloves?
What a wondeful abstract that weather map would make!… Almost as beautiful as the heron. As I type this, my fingers are so cold, they ache. Our house is always cold and drafty in the Winter and your reminder of our days in Florida are very welcomed….I can almost hear the soft swish of the water, feel the stirring of a gentle breeze, the warmth of sunshine, turquoise water and silky, white sand…mostly the warmth….
Mia. Not to rub it in but maybe I will go to Ft. Desoto and take some pictures it will be mid 70!s today. Sorry
LOLOL No need to be sorry, enjoy!!
Mia: I have been emailing you about some photos I would like to buy. Guess my emails are going awry. Please get in touch. – Margot
I’m so sorry you are having so many grey days but you always brighten my day. Thank you Mia!
Beautiful photo, Mia. Each Gray Day behind is a day closer to spring.