5/21/2011: Bearing Gifts 2

While the Wood Storks are the largest of the gift bearers at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm rookery, everyone gets into the act. Great Egrets are the second most obvious though they generally do not manage the grace of the Woodies. Below is a Cattle Egret in full flight over the rookery. I like the light through the wings.

Eventually each gift becomes an offering, generally male to female, and continual nest-building, even with eggs or young in the nest, seems to be part of the pair bond. This shot is slightly over exposed, with the highlights blocked up past all recovery. I only kept it because of the offering it shows.

Just watching the gifting behavior is interesting. Trying to catch significant moments with a camera adds a measure of challenge, and, at least for me, enjoyment.

Nikon Coolpix P500 from 300 to 700mm equivalent fields of view, User selected Flight and Action program.

Processed in Lightroom for Clarity and Sharpness.

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