Reddish Egret Preening in early morning light - Favorites #3

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The photo was taken at JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, FL in Feb. 2012. The rising sun produced a pinkish tinge to the water surrounding the Reddish Egret. But the bird was in shadow because the sun was not yet high enough to eliminate the shade of the trees bordering the water where the Reddish Egret was standing. The "punk hairdo" adds a lot to the image in my opinion.

Reddish Egret, JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge - Feb. 2012

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit.