On Saturday, on my way out to Point Lomos and Cabrillo National Monument, I was crossing Famosa Slough, and thinking, of course, of digiscoping the Kingfisher there in high wind on Wednesday, when it occurred to me to stop and see if it was still hanging out on the pilings on this windless Saturday morning. There would be hummingbirds at any rate, and it seemed like a good idea. I could always go to Cabrillo on Sunday.

The Kingfisher was faithful…right there on the pilings where the Slough channel passes under West Point Lomos Drive, and there were hummingbirds too, but this shot is one of those serendipitous, too-good-to-pass-up, opportunities that happen when you are busy doing something else. I was set up on the Kingfisher with my digiscoping rig, moving from one vantage to another, when this Snowy Egret squawked and flopped down into the water trapped against the road embankment. Down went the tripod and scope, and up came the Canon SX40HS. I got off a few shots, first at full optical zoom, and then at 2x digital tel-extender. The bird was just tall enough to be in full light against the dark water in the shadow of the bank. I could not have planned it better if I had actually planned it. In less a 60 seconds (90 max) the bird had moved in under the shadow of the bank and the moment was over…but I am left with this intimate study of the form and texture of the living bird…studio perfect.

Canon SX40HS in Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation. f8 @ 1/1250th @ ISO 100. 1680mm equivalent field of view.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.