2012 Start from Bolivar

Made my first trip to Bolivar in 2012 last weekend and the new year is looking good so far.

Got there before the sun came up and it was partly cloudy with very little wind and very calm water.  I really wanted to wade out into the Gulf with the calm water but heard something that would be blocking my way.  Got out of the car and immediately could tell that there were lots of Avocets near by as I could hear them but couldn’t seen them.  Once it started to lighted up, found several hundred of them right in front of me along a sand bar just beyond the barricade posts.  Walked along the posts to try to hide my approach and then slowly walked to the shore line and laid down.  That is where I got the first shot of the Great Blue Heron in silhouette.  Didn’t stay in that location very long as all I was going to get was a line of Avocets.  My goal was to somehow work my way around them to get some non-silhouette shots.

Moved to the west and then slowly walked out into the water to the first sandbar to get closer to them and get a better angle.  Stayed there for a while and then got up and moved further out to the next sandbar between two groups of Avocets while trying not to spook them.  Made it and was able to lay down again and wait for them to come to me, which they eventually did.  Patience pays in bird photography.  Got some of the last almost full frame shots from that position.  Haven’t got my dream Avocet shot yet but the year has just started…

All taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens with Skimmer ground pod