Wordless Wednesday - The Flying Leap

Look What We Got Here

A Reflecting Egret

 

 

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens:  Sigma 50-500MM and 1.4 converter  --  Focal Length 700MM

Exposure:  f/11   1/250   ISO 200

Location:  Okukubi River, Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  JAN 18  2016  3:09PM

Bird Photo: Pause and Reflect

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax F4 300mm

Exposure: f/5.6   1/640   ISO 100

Location: Kin Dam, Okukubi River, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: FEB 2, 2015  2:34PM

Bend Over Let Me See You Shake a Tail Feather

This Egret Will Make You Want To Try It

 

 

Today we'll be heading out early and won't be back tonight.

So, this bird gave me an idea of how to keep everyone entertained while I'm gone.

Here's a video with great music, you can use to practice.

It would be best to do this in the privacy of your home, not out in the street.

That's because, when I was doing it, I almost got run over by a dump truck.

 

Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers will help get you started.

You don't have to bend over.

Just shake it baby !

Photos: Editor's Picks for the Month of July 2012

These are the Editor's Picks for July 2012.

Left Hanging Out to Dry

Lens: Sigma 50-500mm

A Waterfall Named Hira Taki

Lens: Sigma 10-20mm

Amasagi: The Cattle Egret of Okinawa

Lens: Sigma 50-500mm

The type of photography I do requires a sturdy, lightweight tripod.

Most of the shots I take are with a MANFROTTO.

Down in the Mangroves of Okinawa You Can Observe Nature

The mangrove forests of Okinawa are great places to observe nature.

Even a crab, like me, gets invited to come on in.

There are medium-sized birds like this Egret among the uncaged and free-roaming wildlife.

And there are small, fast-moving birds like this Wagtail.  You can observe all of them hunting for food.

If you look deep into the center of the mangrove forest and be very quiet, you might see a Grey Heron.

What's he doing in there ?

He went in there to finish his lunch somewhere away from me observing nature with my noisy camera !

NOTE:  THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN IN NAHA AT THE

MANKO WATERBIRD AND WETLAND CENTER 

World Water Day 2011 (Photo)

Someone has to start reminding me a little earlier each year, WORLD WATER DAY 2011 is today March 22nd.   As a Wildlife Photographer living in Okinawa, Japan, everyday is World Water Day, to me.

                                                           HAPPY WORLD WATER DAY !

Visit my Homepage for THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

Wildlife Photo (Bird) Grey Heron: Coming in for a Landing

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is one of the largest birds to visit Okinawa, Japan during the winter months. It has some beautiful black and white designs to be seen when its wings are fully extended. With a little luck and lots of good weather I'll get a full-frame shot of one with outstretched wings to show you before these guys migrate in March. Right now I'm too busy concentrating on catching the golden eyes !

Wildlife Photo (Bird) Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

A Winter visitor to Okinawa, Japan this bird is found marshes and along the seacoast in shallow waters. It usually eats anything small enough to swallow with one quick gulp. That may include fish, shellfish, spiders, bugs, mice and, ocassionally, other small birds captured in flight. More Egrets, Herons, Eagles, Hawks and smaller birds may be seen on the Gallery pages of my WEBSITE.

Wildlife Photo Essay: Egret, Tiger Fish and theTwo Minute Breakfast

Here are a dozen photos with short captions to demonstrate how a Pacific Reef Egret catches a Tiger Fish and prepares it for breakfast. The entire process lasted two minutes.

Red Beach Okinawa, Japan NOV 11, 2010 8:35AM the bird lands and takes a look around. He's hungry.

He spots a meal heading his way as the tide comes in and gets down in the bird-stealth mode.

At precisely the right moment he reaches out and grabs the little guy.  It's a Tiger Fish.



Next, he turns around and wades back towards the shore.

This way, if he drops the fish, it'll be a lot harder for the critter to swim away.



Now, these Egrets don't have any teeth to chew with so, they have to figure out a way to get the fish in the right position to make them slide down the hatch without choking themselves.

The Tiger Fish sorta figures out what's going on and decides he won't cooperate with the bird trying to eat him.

The Egret gets an idea. Just put the Tiger Fish down and keep an eye on him. They're a lot easier to swallow when they aren't throwing a tantrum.



When it looks like he's had enough quiet-time the bird grabs the Tiger Fish again. It's Round #2.

The Egret gets a good grip on the Tiger Fish this time and has clamped him into a position where he can.....



.... throw his head back, open the hatch wide....



.....and, with one big gulp  (8:37AM) the Egret, Tiger Fish and the Two Minute Breakfast story is over !

A Little Crabby Today, Eh?

TODAY'S PHOTO/CRITTERS OF THE DAY: "AN EGRET AND A CRAB"
Cheers,
MIKE