Another Day

Every once in awhile, when I need stress relief, I grab the camera and head over to the beach to marvel at all the people from the personal ads who are busy taking their daily "long walk on the beach."  Ever notice that?  All the personal ads say the same thing: "SWF, NS...yada yada..enjoys long walks on the beach and more." 
The ads never say what "more" is, probably because it's not printable in most publications.

Anyway on this particular day, my stress evaporated as soon as I got out of the car and inhaled the salty air and the exhaust fumes from nearby Gulf Blvd.  I headed down the beach a ways and settled in to watch a pelican, who was floating around  and watching all the humans.  "Idiots," he thought. "I don't even need a mortgage or car payment and I'm free as a...uh, bird."
I would have shot him for that thought, but

A couple of seagulls began pecking at him, and he flew away before I could get my camera out...proving once and for all that even in nature, some living things are MEAN!

A few minutes later, I noticed a movement behind me, turned around, and there he was. Our photographic model of the day.  Daym. I slid the camera around and stood up slowly, moving into position to get a photo of him before he flew off.

I've got to say that the Heron possesses more vanity than of all the birds that frequent these shores. I swear, they preen for photos.  This one held his beak up high so that it made him look taller than the other birds.  I told him about the heron down the beach that was twice his size and he grimaced in disgust. You should never antagonize a living thing that is within striking distance of your face.

I'm going to prove just how vain they are.  Every morning when I get in my car, I inhale that wonderful leather scent that still reminds me of a "new car" smell.   And every morning after I drop off five 13- yr-old girls at school, my car smells like a mixture of strawberry and passion fruit and whatever scent is in their lip gloss or sprayed on their hair and neck.

So there I am, thinking I'm all alone in taking this picture, except that I began to smell watermelon.  Turned around and nearly jumped out of my skin.  There SHE was, all of 10 years old or so, standing behind me with a digital camera aimed squarely at the bird.  She of missing teeth and watermelon scented bubble gum.   She popped a big bubble and the bird just STOOD there, posing for more picts.  Vain, I tell ya. So much for my stealth tactics.

He asked me to get a close up of his neck, and his foot.  Interesting, isn't it.  I wish I'd had my tripod, it's hard to hold big lens and get a pict that isn't shaky.  Here you go. :)

Comments

[Old Horsetail Snake]

Just a damn minute! That ain't no pelican. That's a GBH, ain't it?

[kenju]

So gorgeous! Great photos, Laura.

[Laura]

yep Hoss.... and thank's for spotting that major error! Had to go back in and edit, edit, edit. Sorry!

[Barry]

What's that around his ankle? Is he under House Arrest or something?

If so, he's an Errin' Heron.

[Seamus]

...of course the real lines that should be used:
"Enjoys short walks to the liquor store."
"Enjoys meandering walks thru peeps show booths."
"Enjoys pacing cell."
"Enjoys long stays on couch while someone else walk to liquor store."
"Enjoys looooooooonggg walks thru malls."

Beautiful pics - what equipment do you use?

[MrsDoF]

Beautiful photos! That blue sky and bird's head...zowie!

The little girl seems to know her stuff. Maybe she's one who walks the beach often.

I'd say the band around the ankle is a tag for an endangered species and migration patterns. Not necessarily an errin' heron, but going on the usual routine.

[Laura]

Thanks Kenju :))

Barry, house arrest would be pretty cool. He eats the fish in my pond quite often, and I'm sure he's been arrested before for similar misdemeanors elsewhere.

Actually, i'm not sure which agency is tagging the birds. Could be the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary... I'll have to check into it and find out.

Seamus, you're killing me.. LOL Or long walks to Joe's bar...
I have a Canon Rebel Xt. was using 70 - 300mm lens that day. I'm still learning how to manage both the camera and the lens. My God, I almost miss the old point and click cameras!

Mrs. DOF, I think she was a tourist, but I hope she got a good shot. She wasn't much taller than than the bird itself!

[Nils]

He looks nice and plump ... probably all full of goldfish, and ready for the long migration home ...

[doubleknot]

Very interesting tale and very nice pictures. Oh well maybe the bird wasn't afraid of the girl because she was smaller then him.

[Jeff]

Heron vanity?

BAND NAME!

[Leanne]

Holy Lord woman, what a shot! That is A M A Z I N G. But you knew that, and he knew that, and there it is.

May I paint from your photograph? If that's okay with you, could you drop me a larger size via e-mail? I would LOVE to paint him. Wow. Wow, and wow again!

[deb]

He's magnificent! I'd love to be able to drive to the ocean to de-stress but it's just too dang far. Hope you have a nice weekend!

[FloridaCracker]

Wow, you got so close...I can smell the expensive goldfish on his breath.

Yes, teen girls love the fruitpunch scented sprays. In my class, I often get the urge for a pack of good ol'fashioned original flavor lifesavers as they file in. What's worse are the boys who believe that drenching yourself in AXE will get you the girl of your dreams. They will actually walk up to class aerosoling themselves with the stuff. Gasp!!

Note to Rich...quick, take Laura out to a nice dinner, she's reading singles ads :)

[poopie]

Wow Laura! You done good, girlfriend. You're so right about the personals. I've never met a man yet who likes long walks on the beach. Most of 'em want to sit in the chair by the cooler with the beer ;)