My Favorite Five – “Thanksgiving Day Surprises”

My Favorite Five – “Thanksgiving Day Surprises”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Before I post my “top nine for 2021” photo on Instagram, I wanted to post my favorite five posts from 2021 and see the difference. 

Here they are……  

Backstory:

I’ve saved the life of many animals. It brings me great joy! 

Two baby cardinals fell from a nest and I rescued them. I saved the life of an Eastern red bat, a baby bunny from the jaws of a cat, and now, the life of a duck. Better yet, it was Thanksgiving Day.

I went to a local pond on St. Simons Island, Georgia to see if the hooded mergansers migrated yet. They were not there, but I enjoyed watching the ducks on the shore. 

One duck it particular had several other ducks around it under the brush. I wondered if she was laying an egg. 

As I was driving away, I noticed two goats following a gentleman on a motorized scooter. I stopped to speak to him. How often do you get to see a goat on the island?

His name is Doc. He mentioned the ducks would lay their eggs on the bank of the pond, but raccoons and other animals eat the eggs. He and another lady would gather the eggs. She bought two incubators to hatch them. 

I might know where an egg is. A smile lit my face as I looked down under the brush and found an egg. I was delighted. Doc said, “It’s still warm.” 

Doc took the lady the egg. I was quite ecstatic!

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Surrounded in Green

“Surrounded in Green”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Since it is St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d share a photo of an animal surrounded in green.

This charming bird in a tuxedo is a hooded merganser. They are adorable and I love them so! 

To purchase wildlife and nature fine art prints, please visit my website:

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Mesmerizing Merganser

”Mesmerizing Merganser”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

Hopefully, everyone is not as mesmerized as this hooded merganser after all the Christmas shopping & celebrations! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!!

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

No Snow Here!

No Snow Here!

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

On Christmas day last year, after the hustle and bustle of the day was finished, I went to the beach to photograph the shorebirds. This cute “snowman” greeted me. I was thankful someone built it and left it for others to enjoy.

It rarely snows on St. Simons Island, but I remember when I was younger waking up to snow on the ground. The only other time I can “remember” it snowing was when I was in college. We made not one, but two snowmen in the front yard. I even made a snow angel.

Snow on St. Simons Island, Georgia - February 1977

I'm the one in the Winnie the Pooh hat and mask.

Snow on St. Simons Island, Georgia - 1989

Windblown

“Windblown”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

During the Thanksgiving holiday, I enjoyed photographing a lot of birds. I knew I would not find any turkeys being that I was on the coast but enjoyed seeing tons of birds.

This great egret came very close to me as he hunted for fish in the tall marsh. I love when the Lord answers my prayers to show me or bring to me what He wants me to photograph.

 These majestic birds have to be motionless for a long time as they sneak up on their prey—kind of reminds me of myself as I am sneaking up on them! 

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Looking Back to 2016

“Looking Back to 2016”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Where did 2016 go? This year has flown back quicker than any year!

I have been extremely busy with my photography, writing and caring for my husband’s aunt. There aren’t enough hours in the day, and my requests asking my husband to add 24 more hours to my day has not been fulfilled yet.

At one point, I got really frustrated with my lack of time but knew the Lord would not want me to be that way. I changed my mindset and told myself I would get what I could accomplish each day, and I'd be okay.

The Lord has blessed my photography, and He continues to amaze me with what He brings me to photograph. I am truly thankful for all He does for me!

I went shooting with a fellow friend Emory for this shot. We went to photograph the merganser ducks (one of my favorites) and Driftwood beach at night!

He allowed me to shoot with his 600mm lens. If you aren't familiar with how big that is, imagine looking through a lens that is about the same diameter as a small basketball. It's ginormous!

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Transposed

"Transposed"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

When you see a photograph of a shell at the beach, you don't think the shell was brought from a different location because shells are found at the beach. This shell started at the beach, found it's way to my dad's house, then I took it back to the beach to photograph. I don't typically find nice shells, so I brought a few to photograph.

 Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

In Search Of

"In Search Of"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Birds have to search daily for their next meal, which means birds like the egret can be found near water. When I am on St. Simons Island, Georgia, I love looking for large water birds. I found this guy in the marsh near East Beach. 

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Much to Learn

"Much to Learn"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I have much to learn when identifying birds for my photography. Some are very easy based on their size, color, movements, and vocal calls, but others not so much. 

Their are two species of yellowlegs, the greater yellowlegs and the lesser yellowlegs. The two look very alike. It's bill length is a good indicator to distinguish the species, but I am not even going to try! 

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Exposed

"Exposed"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

I found this egret on St. Simons Island, Georgia. It was around 3 o'clock, so the sun was harsh. 

I knew the feathers of the egret would be blown out if I was not careful. I had to change my exposure compensation greatly. The background is really dark, but the egret is exposed properly.

Wading Around

"Wading Around" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

While I was waiting around to photograph the merganser ducks, this wood stork was wading around in the creek too:)

Location: St. Simons Island, Georgia

Alert!

Alert! 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

During the Christmas holidays, I went to St. Simons Island, Georgia. I was photographing a blue heron when I noticed a behavior I have never seen before. I was curious, so I took a lot of photographs.

Then it all made sense….another blue heron was walking towards the other heron. I have never seen two blue herons in close proximity before except when they were nesting.

The first heron pointed his beak to the sky and spread his wings dramatically. As the other heron walked towards him, he also had his beak to the sky and spread his wings.

The second heron walked near then passed by the first heron. He then turned around and walked past him again. The second heron did this a total of three times for a duration of about five minutes. Finally, the second heron flew away.

I researched this behavior and found this page that talks about different behaviors in herons. I believe this behavior is the “alert posture” where the heron does this behavior when it is disturbed or threatened. That is my best guess. You can read the article and make your own decision.

Either way, it was a fun and exciting thing for me to be able to witness!

On Assignment

"On Assignment" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Just this past weekend as I was walking out to shoot, a neat thought came to me....I am "on assignment" for Jesus as a photographer. He just has to show me what He wants me to shoot! I love when He beings to me or shows me what to photograph!

It is always an adventure, and I love the excitement of not knowing what I will photograph next. I don’t know what is just around the corner, so the anticipation keeps me going hours on end.

I saw this Willet about five minutes after I got to the beach. I set down my camera and tripod in the direction I thought he would end up going. Not too long later, he walked right towards my camera.