Even on my busiest days in San Diego, I managed to get out birding for at least a few moments. This was taken in Southern Wildlife Preserve on the San Diego River Flood Control Channel, only a mile or so from the Marina Village Conference Center where the San Diego Birding Festival is held. It is a longish walk from the Conference Center, so I don’t get to the landward end of the Preserve that often, but this day I drove out Sea World Drive to the entrance to Old Sea World Drive. Old Sea World Drive is closed to through traffic and is home to joggers, walkers, bicyclist, and the occasional drive in birder.

I like the total symmetry here: bird and reflection, rock and rock. I like the way the light is enfolding the bird from the back. And I like the pose of the bird, with one foot tucked u[, but still showing. It is not the best portrait of a Snowy Egret, and the brightest highlights are blown out…but I still like the overall effect.

Canon SX50HS in Program with iContrast and Auto Shadow Fill. –1/3EV exposure compensation. 655mm equivalent field of view. f5.6 @ 1/1000th @ ISO 320. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.

And just for fun, here it is as a B&W.