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| Little Blue Heron |
The Academy Awards red carpet certainly showcased many glamorous gowns, but some St. John celebrities have their own stunning outfits – and I’m not referring to the tie-dye display at the recent Hippie Love Fest in Coral Bay (though that was truly awesome).
Here in Fish Bay I have been stalking some reclusive
style-setters that hang out around the mangroves, and recently enlisted my
husband to help me search for them. We set out in our neighbor’s two-seater
kayak, like seagoing paparazzi. I sat in the bow with my telephoto lens while
he paddled slowly along the red mangroves at the edge of the bay.
My main goal was to get some close-ups of a group of Ruddy
Turnstones I had glimpsed on the shoreline when I was kayaking alone, without
my camera. We searched unsuccessfully for a while until we were distracted by a
Little Blue Heron wading in the shallow water. It was more than willing to pose
for us and we quietly drifted closer and closer.
During breeding season, the feathers on the necks of Little
Blue Herons are a lovely shade of purple, and long ribbon-like plumes extend
from their heads and necks. Our model turned for us so its plumes fluttered
prettily in the breeze, though its yellow eyes were hard and cold, and its
black-tipped bill turned downward.
Soon an even flashier beauty strolled out into the bay – a
Great Egret in breeding plumage. Its bright white feathers were overlaid with
long delicate back plumes, called aigrettes. These plumes used to be popular
for adorning fancy women’s hats, and the birds were hunted until hardly any
were left alive. This one proudly showed
off its healthy vitality, with its plumes and dramatic green eye shadow
highlighting its breeding status.
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| Great Egret with breeding plumage |
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| Ruddy Turnstone |
I am very grateful to have such glamorous neighbors, especially
when they are so willing to pose for my amateur photo shoots.
