Wood Duck Birds and Bees

Several of these flitted about as we watched for heron at Wood Duck Island.

I thought we might greet and share stories of photographic adventure but he chose to stear clear of us.

This was in the grass at our feet.

The snake was more sociable than the other photographer in the area.

I hadn't seen before any way to get beneath the trees of heron nests. Then we noticed this.

These red ants were somewhat agressive. In another shot I set a grey card next to them to set white balance and they swarmed it.

I am sure every time I looked down like this I missed a great heron shot overhead. As long as we kept our eyes on their nests, not much happened.

We always caught glimpses of the heron as they arrived or departed just after we glanced away for some reason.

I climbed a tree a bit hoping for a better heron vantage point. This is the only bird I ended up photographing, a female Downy Woodpecker.

I was excited to spot these fellows, more interesting than feisty ants.

They didn't seem to mind our approach. Happily, I had the longer lens today that won't even focus closer than ten feet, so I had an excuse to keep a little distance.

Secretly, of course, I was hoping for some excitement here.

I think we saw every animal but the one we had sought.