Birds of Paradise

It's difficult to write tonight. I've got a lot on my mind and I'm totally exhausted. I've chosen instead to highlight the beauty of the birds which were out in full congregation behind my house in the preserve last weekend, with this brief photo journal. They were busy and vocal, and they let me get much closer to them than they usually do. The blue heron was exquisite, and the white egrets reflected so crisply in the gathered rainwater. There were two wood storks kind of watching over the other playing birds, but one of them took off before I could capture it. The other one stuck around.

This is when blue just first started to appear. Do you see him off to the left? He stayed in the brush for quite some time before quietly moving his way out. I tried not to look and focused on the egret.

I watched the egret and the wood stork watched me. He just stared as if to say, "Can I help you?"

I couldn't believe how clear the egret's reflection was. He wasn't checking himself out, he was actually looking for food. I got a shot of him with something in his mouth, but it didn't come out well.

Blue started to creep out eventually. I kept preparing for him to fly away, because they don't usually let me get close enough for a photo without a zoomed lens. This day was a rare occasion. 

But he didn't fly away. Instead he flew right over to this nice branch that juts out for a perfect perch. Look how spectacular his wings are. I almost felt like he was putting on a show just for me!

There he perched in all his glory. The sun was out but the air was clear. So was the water. It is interesting the way you can see below the water in the middle of the photo- the underside of the branch blue is perched on. But along the edges of the water, you see the reflection of the trees above.

There is a slight zoom on this photo, reducing the quality a bit, but I can't believe he let me get so close! Isn't he beautiful?

I wonder who will stop by this weekend. Sunny and 80 degrees. Just another day in paradise.