Egrets in morning light

There is magic in Florida's early morning light. Even in the "blue hour" before sunrise, when tripods and longer exposures might be required, the sky is often bright enough for hand-held photos. White birds always pose a challenge. Stark white feathers are easily overexposed, but dawn's warm light at a low angle can enhance the detail. 

My neighbors' fences are barely visible before sunrise from our back patio:



A Great Egret lofts up into the light against the dark surface of the lake



Sunlight is just touching the lake as another egret dances above the surface:



Wary as I approach, the egret moves away a bit:



The egret's feet barely touch the water and ripples have not had time to disturb the surface:



Another Great Egret emerges from the seclusion of the reeds...



...and struts out into the open against a backdrop that fades into oblivion at f/4: 



An adult Green Heron occupies a prominent post on a rock:



The Green Heron watches as a Little Blue Heron ventures near:




Ripples reflect on the feathers of the Little Blue Heron as it peers nearsightedly into the shallows:



The shadows shorten:



A pair of Common Nighthawks have either a nest or a chick nearby. Overhead, one suddenly turns and swoops down at me, filling the frame. Just above my head, it turns up sharply at the bottom of its dive and its wing feathers create a startling "boom."

 



A Killdeer, calling loudly, tries to draw me away from a nest along the path:



In an effort to distract me, one displays its bright tail feathers and feigns a broken wing:



Now sun plays across the lake; the egret accents the scene:



I visit the damaged rookery and find that one of the Green Heron pairs has a second clutch of eggs:



An adult Green Heron covers the nest:



Only about six feet away, two Green Heron nestlings are almost ready for flight:





Back at the lake, an immature Green Heron, perhaps one from the first brood, suddenly flies up and I get a lucky shot...



...before it merges into the rushes:



Shooting through the grass, I capture the image of a Snowy Egret and its reflection:



In a pool next to the lake, an immature White Ibis catches something that looks like a cricket:



I get close looks at a Gulf Fritillary...



...a Brown Anole displaying its dewlap...



...and the large, fleshy flower of a Pond Apple (Annona glabra):



I did not wish to damage the flower, but here is a photo (taken in 2008) of one which had fallen to the ground:



Back home on our front lawn, a White-winged Dove gathers sticks for its flimsy nest in our next-door neighbor's tree:




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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa). 

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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