![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpclMiu-a5Dx4k3K7oUKhemq1lk4xiiXuEY3F3laNbxxPoy7v9TOSV6W99BarvIBbPCsQLt1_Icz5ucspEBIzakmnybVe0Rftf9IYZnDbPNT6kT1zGUkYsPmliiAb20pvYYvyNzUPqdoU/s660/1.jpg)
The weather was otherwise ideal for an afternoon visit to Estero Lagoon early in the week.
I found haven from the wind by settling in the water exiting the lagoon into the gulf near a clump of mangroves on the beach.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBST96wvQLv40Sn4PtlVF8Yj2LQHrmW8VwoRK3Za-Eok5QNmShnaka_8bwIBDHrazTnjSV8krYlH1btH5aBgGjKA2nc4LJuvMT8Ku1BX6wD_ggkALH4oT2bU06f9_dWVT_ujlZ84CZnxm8/s660/2.jpg)
From this position I was able to study a surprisingly docile Reddish Egret that was often wary of the beach patrons passing by.
I was able to observe a number of White Ibis, a Snowy Egret, and a Mottled Duck work the lagoon.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggY7tWQb0kTGU2D90_zVC9dXTPFbh7BjE2qtAnHifpsNCz2BuzCLMj1Tei-TgCNPS8DzJC1lZFW_3NOE0Dmg6Zx8Gc02ivbiTGTPaHLtom8YRhATAg15i6LPLdVMyzw5b1_5LB-4MVtYfN/s660/3.jpg)
A very rarely seen Herring Gull made a close flyby over the lagoon as it headed south along the beach.
An Osprey made a landing behind a dune in the lagoon and appeared back into view carrying a stick for nest building.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkl-x_S1fwp1oadto6P5DAyZdmckDLBafR_ZXbL2U2n1HfnK8qA-qDuVohBqMJCthYo4LjF0yrKIIzX25Xri_frqFJoa8XCKVM04TyqPOofarpA65moXat6Y_4TjUqZaA7mTLlGWkwCjP/s660/4.jpg)
This was a treat to observe as I thought this activity had peaked a couple of months ago.
While it's been evident that snow birds (tourists) have been returning home these past couple of weeks, there still was a lot of foot traffic at the lagoon.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f2Hgu_cXBugn2CxhZ5ajcXHs9RCVR9ZG5X1_O2as8XtMai1_5YaOfX3PqWu4aZYR7eaTLActstEKvUC4CgLO3FyS1HQX96r-qkjwmKWEV_dAvBKvT804n3BXd6us3Tt_GA_9nP-8rz_6/s660/6.jpg)
A pair of visitors from Miami photographed the Reddish Egret with me for a brief time.
The Roseate Spoonbill failed to arrive on the scene as I commented was a possibility.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-CVO-SUSnDU9zuFlHM8dGV1GBk4HwgLXa6CTxHsAH86XhzaP1tQ5qrTADrU9W3lN1r_0OJhS5v-wQHZSWc6RKixA1ahBS4caK6sRjyIGsvaBmAymwckzBXxE1CeRZvxVAMYlNXQfa82s/s660/5.jpg)
After walking a few hundred yards to the south, I settled down to study a pair of Snowy Egret and the Reddish Egret that had flown in to take advantage of the incoming tide.
A Ruddy Turnstone flew onto the scene for a brief moment as the sun was close to setting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYNsaF9Jh83nV2u8AiXRcrcZo-fyRTyugmj7Z8GflJhYatcyBbGeNG1IPA0t0A9x8wqBF8ZCLlUyTh3cfbGs7halFRmEto7YA7IPkU4V3ReMZsa4itBC39qLdKX3KlXs5iFI71sTx01Av/s660/7.jpg)
I chose to photograph the waders directly into the sun in the final hour of my stay at the lagoon for what I had hoped would offer some interesting images.
This proved to be a problem with the reflection of the sun in the water so bright that I needed to use manual focus as auto focus couldn't distinguish the birds from the surf.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpEf0FsBpsW3aNRi-eW_YJvdB40hMxrag9IPPyddq2Cl1jImHE9Hu4lRJVFdyH16K3HIU_j6l74WEnwpVeMSvIIYOSfi_EIj6ge5tvTw2QiNLkXK-7usVj_fsJCDQ_2tJkUcF7VPMX3Sk/s660/8.jpg)
The beach goers near Estero Lagoon are often visiting from other parts of the country or the world.
It's always interesting to speak with them when the chance arises.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPMIN-HfGR1pwhbWVkkzYdJ9ggjI6b5p4xphDehSFRoKfVQqQNseiE5YU8yrA3gUg3JTG1pTI4vOBGh7PhEsOQUnTCNEUHbwFNyrj66BKBYrw51ld4BOX7dkNdhHBkeX0iR5VlyU78_mm/s660/8.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment