Lake Living

“Lake Living”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

My husband and I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee a few weeks ago. We really enjoy where we live.

Our apartment looks over a cove on Fort Loudon Lake. It is a beautiful sight to wake up to.

As I walked my dog this morning, I saw a great blue heron on the log where the cormorant usually perches.

I dashed inside and grabbed my camera. The fall color is beautiful around the lake, so my goal was to position the heron in front of it.

My desk looks out over the lake and will quickly let me see any birds or wildlife at the lake. I love living at The Village at Westland Cove!

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

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Location: The Village at Westland Cove, Knoxville, Tennessee

"Too Big!"

"Too Big!"
Judy Royal Glenn Photography

I love visiting Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. I usually spend the day in the Audubon Swamp there. 

A great blue heron typically has a nest on a cypress tree in the swamp, so I was eager to see if there was one again.

This year, I only saw one chick. He was very hungry and constantly called to his mom for food. At times, he lulled her to sleep.

She finally gave in and regurgitated a ginormous fish. The chick wrestled with the fish for a long time. He tried and tried, but he could never swallow it.

 Finally, she bent down and tugged on the fish that was sticking out of his mouth. He did not want to let go, but mom had her way and took it from him. She knew it needed to brew for a little longer.

He clamped down on her beak trying to get her to release the fish again. After more complaining, she relented. 

This time he wasn’t going to let her take it back. He gulped it up right away.

It was funny, seeing the huge fish lodged in his throat. It made him look like he had a very thick neck.

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

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

www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

A Rare Treat

“A Rare Treat”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Tricolored heron - juvenile

I was raised on St. Simons Island, Georgia and enjoy going back to visit and photographing the birds there. Herons and egrets are a few of my favorite species on the island. 

I don’t get the pleasure of photographing the tricolored heron very often. This one is a juvenile.

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

https://www.judyroyalglennphotography.com

Awkward First Kiss

“Awkward First Kiss”

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

These great blue herons seemed to have an awkward first kiss at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

“Siblings Forever”

"Siblings Forever"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

Visiting the Aububon Swamp at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina is always a treat for me. The swamp boasts a massive 60-acres filled with all kinds of birds.

My favorite part of visiting the swamp is watching the chicks of the great blue herons. The heron chicks are the first species to hatch when I am there. 

My YouTube video shows these two heron chicks were having a sparring rivalry while the mom stood unscathed.

 Yesterday, I shared this video on my Instagram and Facebook Photography pages because it was National Siblings Day.

Please click here to visit my Instagram account, here to visit my Facebook Photography page, and here to visit my YouTube channel.

George

"George" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

This is George the resident great blue heron on the beach at Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This photo was taken while I was at the Alabama Coastal BirdFest. 

When I first got to the beach, I saw George off in the distance next to a few fishermen. At first glance, I said out loud, "Is that real?" He was a very large heron, and I did not know if it was a decoration. 

George also wanted the shrimp on the line of the fisherman just like the willet. The fisherman threw George a shrimp to eat and then caught a fish and gave it to George so I could photograph him.

My Angry Face

"My Angry Face" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography 

A comical side of photography for today:) 

Location: Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia

Peering

"Peering" 

Judy Royal Glenn Photography  

While I was on Daniel Island, South Carolina, I found a swampy area which would be good for bird photography.  I was experimenting with my polarizing filter I just bought.  

This Little Blue Heron was meandering around looking for breakfast.  He was not far from me, but then he decided to fly right in front of my camera.  I was zoomed in too far and had to zoom out to fit him into the frame. 

He was fun to watch.   He would tilt his head side to side as he tried to peer through the water looking for food.  Maybe he would have benefited from looking through my polarizer to help him see below the surface of the water. 

The Big One

"The Big One"

Judy Royal Glenn Photography

 

Another photographer and I were so excited to see this Great Blue Heron snag the big one and be there to capture the photograph. 

 

I don't have Photoshop and stitched these two photos together to make it larger.  It's not perfect, but it will do for today. 

 

I love the reflection of the fish in this photograph 
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Location:  Little Mulberry Park, Dacula, Georgia