Lone Cypress at Harns Marsh

Stars were observed in the early morning night sky this week when I was able to make a trip to Harns Marsh with the expectation that daylight would be favorable for wildlife photography.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

I had very much wanted to return to the lone Cypress tree at Harns Marsh Preserve in particular where I last observed a Bald Eagle attacked by Black-necked Stilts the morning of the summer solstice.

So on the morning following Independence Day I was excitedly on my way to Harns Marsh and arrived prior to sunrise.

The Red-winged Blackbird above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

First observations at the Preserve offered overflights of flocks of ibis before leaving the car.

I made my way north toward the Cypress tree in anticipation I might chance to observe again the contention between stilt and eagle.

The Limpkin above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

From behind me, I had a glimpse of an incoming bird and planted the photo gear to get a shot of it as quickly as possible.

In real time I considered I was observing directly to my left over the marsh a pair of Crested Caracara.

The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

It may have been what I wanted to see, however.

The two images I captured of the birds well past me I consider remarkably good out of focus butt shots of the birds that make their identification difficult.

The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

The other possibility of the species seen at that moment would be Snail Kite.

It was still too dark to get a good look at the birds as they were closest to me and I was distracted by attempting to get the shot.

The Sandhill Crane above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

I recall reading years ago David Sibley noting in his Guide to Birds that fumbling with a camera could result in the inability to positively identify what was seen as the bird, at worst, may fly off before an image can be taken.

OK, perhaps it's best to identify your bird first as I'm still thinking caracara all morning turning around very frequently with hopes of seeing the birds again which were last seen flying north of the marsh.

The Roseate Spoonbill above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

The images of the bird seems to favor kite as the feet appear to be orange verses the bright yellow of a mature caracara.

Those two birds I'm quite sure I didn't see again, although I saw more Snail Kite activity at the Preserve than I have in a very long while.

The unidentified bird above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

After entering the marsh somewhat hesitantly with the water level much higher after prolific rains, I was startled by what I think was a snake in the grass that stayed well ahead of me as I was knee deep in water.

I settled down about 100 feet from the Cypress tree with the rising sun behind me and waited.

The Snail Kite juvenile above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

Boat-tailed Grackle were by far the most abundant species of bird observed on this day.

The grackle and a Tricolored Heron were added as birds observed perched in the tree over the past two years including Snail Kite, Anhinga, Cattle Egret, Bald Eagle, Great Egret, and White Ibis.

The Snail Kite juvenile above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

Other species of bird were observed in very few numbers and it was unfortunate that photography of the wildlife seen was at a greater distance than the norm for the most part.

I was pondering great disappointment in visiting the Preserve as Black-necked Stilt failed to make an appearance until nearly three hours after my arrival.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

I thought the birds had moved on due to the water level apparently inundating their nests.

I'll speculate that any egg laying activity last occurred well in advance of the rains with the birds instinctively prepared for them and the potential loss of a brood.

The Tricolored Heron above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

The first stilt observed had strafed me from nowhere for no apparent reason and then another bird of the species appeared with the eagle nowhere in sight.

In review of my photographs taken on this day I've noted that the stilts appeared shortly before Red-shouldered Hawks made their way to the edge of the marsh.

The Black-necked Stilt above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

Perhaps the stilts heard or possibly had a visual of the hawk's approach before my awareness of the predators.

If you happen to be a birding by ear enthusiast, the marsh was especially rewarding in the half hour before and then hour after sunrise.

The Red-shouldered Hawk juvenile above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

The Bald Eagle never made my anticipated perch on the Cypress tree this day.

I had waited much longer for the eagle than I think most would have the patience for.

The Great Egret above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

A close inspection of the Cypress tree to see again the snake skin in its upper branches was a surprise as it was gone.

After looking for it on the ground led to the realization that it was the carcass of a fish.

The molting Boat-tailed Grackle above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

The head and innards had been consumed, while there was evidence of a tail still intact as the carcass nearly disintegrated in my hands.

As I ultimately made my way out of the marsh, I was careful to retrace my steps as best I could.

The Halloween Pennant above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

To be on high ground again after several hours in the water was a relief.

I made my way to the first shady spot far enough from the Cypress tree to take a photograph of it for this story.

The Glossy Ibis above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

I set the lens to manual focus instead of turning off image stabilization for the shot which was a mistake.

As a result, when a Swallow-tailed Kite appeared as a surprise at very close range (in the final half hour I'll always recall Bob Blanchard for), my first few shots of the kite were out of focus.

The Cypress tree above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

I quickly set the lens back to auto focus and deleted the significantly out of focus shots in the camera while the kite was between me and the sun.

The kite would make remarkable close flybys although never in optimal light or position.

The Swallow-tailed Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

The experience of the kite so close and low to the ground was added as a memory among those remarkable wildlife observations enjoyed at Harns Marsh Preserve.

As I approached the bulldozer on the way back to the car, the unmistakable guttural sound of a gator was heard.

The Swallow-tailed Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.

I couldn't place its exact location and failed to sight the beast.

Needless to say, I won't be entering the marsh again this season for safety concerns.

The Swallow-tailed Kite above was photographed at Harns Marsh Preserve in July 2011.