08/28/2026
Recently wrapping up this year’s bear season in Alaska, where we spent an unforgettable month photographing bears with our guests, it was a bit of a shock to return home to such heat in Colorado.
Strangely, the Colorado heat has taken me down memory lane and reminded me that just a year ago Laurie and I were living in Florida. It is wild how quickly life changes, and how my recent memories are often triggered by what wildlife we were experiencing at those times… hence my post today…
Just a little less than a year ago, we were exploring the hidden gems of Florida. Thanks to Laurie’s research via an off-the-beaten-path to a Florida state park, we discovered a small flock of Roseate Spoonbills that liked to gather in the evenings to feed in the shallows of the local lake.
I am admittedly not a birding expert, but I do love photographing animal behavior and the way these colorful spoonbills sift through the water for the tiniest of fish drew me in.
So, we found our angle in anticipation of the spectacular sunset that was to come, awkwardly kneeled in the mud within the reeds of the lake shore, and let the birds acclimate to our presence as the light turned golden.
Trying to capture these colorful birds mid-catch as they quickly toss a tiny fish up into the air to better swallow it whole became a game, much like playing a video game. This image may not be an award winner, but it is moments like this, getting lost in nature and the simple joy of trying to capture a split second, that remind me how blessed we are to be doing what we love.
Anyway, I hope you don’t mind me sharing the stories behind the image!
Feel free to zoom in to see the tiny fish this spoonbill is about to catch - and if you happen to know the species name of the fish, please let me know in the comments (although it may be too tiny to tell) 😉
Happy Friday, and here’s to everyone finding some time to enjoy what you love!
