artesdecobo

Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) is only 10 miles from my home. So, Anne and I make frequent late afternoon trips there for photography opportunities. Anne drives, helps spot animals and looks for safe road pullouts when we spot something of interest. I usually shoot out the passenger window but occasionally get out for a short stalk.

We drive a relatively short circuit within the park which passes from the Gulf of Mexico through the sand dunes and prairies to the salt marsh and Laguna Madre side of the island. Our entire trip takes around an hour and a half from door to door and PINS rarely disappoints for a few good shots. The animals change seasonally.

Here are some shots from last Tuesday. My bonus birds this trip were a white morph variant of the Reddish Egret and Cattle Egrets. The egrets are in breeding colors and plumage. Enjoy.

Bubba

Ruddy Turnstone Reflection and Shadow

(Download)

Ruddy Turnstone Preening

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Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

(Download)

Great Blue Heron

(Download)

Reddish Egret (White Morph) and Long-billed Curlew in the salt marsh


Reddish Egret (White Morph) Launch

(Download)

Reddish Egret (White Morph) Takeoff

(Download)

Reddish Egret (White Morph) Flyaway

(Download)

Cattle Egrets in the prairie grass

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Cattle Egrets 2

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SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

your single bird and action bird shots are wonderful, however, your debt of field for the multiple bird shots need improvement.

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

Beautiful sequence!

artesdecobo

Thanks for commenting, Steve. Noted regarding DOF. Unfortunately, roadside circumstances (passing vehicles) did not allow for me to play with DOF adjustments for the Cattle Egrets. And the lighting was also poor, so I opted to only focus on the closest bird and quickly move on. I was about to adjust aperture for the egret/curlew shot when the Reddish Egret flew nearby. So, I chased the Reddish Egret and got the really nice action shots. Sometimes you take what you can get.

Bubba

artesdecobo

Thanks, niteman3d.

Bubba

Henlopen Loc: Lewes, Delaware

I can tell you put a lot of work in those photos, Bubba - and the oncoming Great Blue Heron was awesome, great series!

Bill

artesdecobo

Thanks, Bill. The oncoming GBH was very cooperative as I tracked him from long distance and he flew directly towards me. Here is another shot of that bird.

Bubba

(Download)

MSW

the launching egrets are tremendous!

artesdecobo

Thanks, MSW. I was in a good, close position with good camera settings when the egret took off. Plus, it flew left to right at the same approximate focal distance allowing the camera/lens to keep focus track. As a BIF addict, this is what I hope and plan for.

Bubba

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Nice bird photos...!

artesdecobo

Thank you, rmorrison1116.

Bubba

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Excellent 💎☀️💎☀️💎

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

A stupendous group of shots 🌟🍀🏆🍀🌟

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Another fabulous set, Bubba! If only I could convince my driver to get up early.

Henlopen Loc: Lewes, Delaware

Another keeper! We have some friends that live in SPI, and hope to get down there and do some exploring the area.