Egret Warning

I followed this Great Egret all over the place and took many shots of him...but this one is totally my favorite.  He hung out on this piling for the longest time...as if he was just dying for me to get him and his message.  Before we headed to the fishing spot this day, I bought a guide to Florida's Gulf Coast Birds at the bait shop...thank God I did or I would have had no idea what he was.  Also...it shares that during mating season this wading bird displays long lacy plumes on it's back...that was one of the things that most drew my attention when I first saw him was those beautiful strands feathering off it's back.

Pelican Stare Down

 We went to Mom's for her birthday and spent Sunday afternoon under the Sanibal bridge fishing...well actually I was chilling, taking in some sun, breeze and a few pics.  I found a couple piers and while I was looking at them...this pelican swooped down and landed on the end of the pier in front of me.  So I inched out toward him.

He noted me...but didn't seem intimidated...although he kept an eye on me.

After awhile he seemed to get comfortable and settled in.

Then I guess I got a little too close...he extended his neck and stared me down...and showed off that wicked claw on the end of his beak...yikes! So I decided to leave him be...it was a gift to have gotten that close to begin with.