This morning I got acquainted with a great blue heron at the Anhinga Trail near the entrance to the park. It’s a popular spot for photographers and bird watchers, even on this cold morning. I think there was a hint of frost on my windshield this morning.
I spent quite a while watching this this bird as he did his morning fishing, he caught a fish, but then laid it in the sawgrass next to him and continued fishing. I’m Not sure why he didn’t eat it right away, because there were all kinds of vultures waiting for the great blue heron to let his guard down and try to steal the fish. The Anhinga Trail has quite a population of vultures who have learned that there is some easy to come by fresh fish at the Anhinga Trail. I guess you can say the vulture is kind of the jerk of the bird world. I was rooting for the heron, when I left the heron still had his catch, but hadn’t eaten it either.
Here’s his catch, but Mr. Heron, next time please whipe off all that grass! It really messed up my photo.
Here is one of the vultures waiting to steal the heron’s meal. I thought this composition and his posed made him look a bit sinister.
This one is another great blue heron at sunset on the Anhinga Trail on the way home tonight. It’s one of those photos that is either cool or completely stupid. I haven’t made up my mind on that yet. At the moment I leaning towards liking it.
I jsut watched that documentary on the Everglades and a good chunk of it was dedicated to the Anhinga Trail. If I am lucky perhaps we’ll take a walk there tomorrow!