My overall favorite birds to photograph are the egrets and herons that frequent the coastal wetlands and marshes of the Chesapeake Bay and eastern seaboard. I never tire of their beauty as they fish in the shallows. Although a number are present throughout the year, I have found them most frequently in the dog days of July and August.
Last week we went to Corolla N.C. for our annual Fourth of July family beach week. As is my habit, I packed the camera in my backpack and rode my bike about five miles early every morning to a coastal park adjacent to the Corolla Lighthouse. This park has several spots where egrets sometimes come to fish in the shallow water of the bay. I did not find them every day (only two days out of six). One morning the early morning light was perfect so I could capture these white birds in sharp contrast with the dark background of the water and the bank. They are magical.
When egrets and herons are fishing, they remind me of dancers moving quickly from one spot to the next, then waiting in absolute stillness until, with a slight bend of their necks, they strike like lightning. They were not always successful, but when they were, they happily showed off their catch.
The images in this essay were taken on two consecutive mornings. On the other four mornings I saw no egrets or herons. Always a lesson in patience and persistence. Wait long enough in the right place and stuff happens. A life lesson from nature.
