Earlier this week, I went out for my usual greet-papa-osprey run around the salt marsh, and landed in the middle of a migration conference with over 100 participants! The place resembled a luxury resort, with guests sprawling around every table at the lunch buffet.
I’ve never seen so many birds in this salt marsh! Dozens of migrating Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and Wood Storks were visiting. I was delighted, but the permanent residents didn’t quite share my enthusiasm. The crowd was a bit unruly at times. Tempers flared, voices – and hairs – were raised.
There were a few really loud exchanges. Followed by rearrangements at the tables. Or maybe I should say, adjustments in the pecking order.
But for the most part, the conference luncheon went smoothly. Everyone got their pickings, big or small.
After lunch some quests embarked on their exercise routines, while others chatted with their peers. Exchanging the latest. Some paraded the calm waters, showing off their beautiful gowns.
I noticed that some permanent residents tried to keep away from the hubbub, seeking calm corners to hide in until the conference would be over. Some stayed out of sight altogether, like the Night Herons.
A few elected to let it all pass, and moved to the relative calm of the bay side.
That included the “Mayor of the Marsh”, Mister Blue Heron. I assumed he got tired of policing the crowd.
But Mama Osprey wouldn’t be moved. She’d been there, done that. She knew peace would return in a couple of days.
And it did. This morning the marsh was calm again, and the twenty odd residents were able to enjoy their home in peace, like the Great Egret does in the featured image.
I hope your weekend is peaceful and calm. ❤ Tiny
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Oh paradise! ❤
It’s the birds’ paradise, popular pit stop for the migrating birds as well. And not to talk about a photographer’s paradise, particularly on days like this one. So much action 🙂
What you do with photos and the unfolding of a story…magic! Thank you! 🙂
Happy you liked it Carrie! The story is always in the photos and slinks out on the screen when I edit them 🙂
Fantastic photos, Tiny. I’m sure those birds are on their way down to Florida. Looking forward to seeing them here. 🙂
They were already here on central Florida’s Gulf Coast, probably on their way now to South Florida, you’ll see them there soon!
I am just in awe of all these beautiful birds, what fun it must be to get to photograph them. Those white birds…oh, my they are so pretty and so very white. Hugs
Yes, they are truly beautiful, and I’m so grateful to have this park close by, but white birds are quite difficult to photograph in bright sunlight. They tend to become one big white blip when one doesn’t have much time to get a shot 🙂 I’ve gotten little better, but still have a lot to learn.
Wonderful treat! It’s been like that on our lagoon this week. Throngs of birds congregating on the shores and wading in the water.
But YOU are much better at capturing the scenes on film. Thanks!
Thanks! I hope there’ll be a new wave of migrants here soon too! I’m very much in the learning mode on both bird photography and my camera too. Oh, boy, how much good stuff I missed even that day just because I made mistakes, it’s humbling.
Shhh . . . you can keep the ones that got away a secret! From where we stand, you got some terrific shots.
😀
Do you have a guess about how long the migrators were there?
I think most of them stayed for about two days. I can see the east end of the marsh from my terrace and I’d seen “increased traffic” one day before I actually got out there. The day after I took these pics, it seemed much calmer already.
I wonder if the managers of the salt marsh raise the rates during peak season? 🙂
Don’t give them any such business ideas, Nancy! The thing about supply and demand might get them confused…and then I’d have no conferences to shoot 😀
That looks much fun (and productive) than some conferences I have attended. Lovely photos, Helen. And I am not surprised that PO was simply taking it all in. Here’s to the restored calm. 🙂
You said it, Eric!! So true 🙂 PO has been nesting there for a few years now and took it easy, like saying “this too shall pass”.
Great photos tiny! Our Canadian geese are on the move, I hear them overhead almost all day. Sam barks at them lol. ❤
Thanks Jackie! I hope to see some of them here! Sam’s just doing his duty…to prevent danger from above 🙂 Hugs!
I am so drawn to these talented interpretative pieces and am delighted once again. Brilliant wordsmithing and lenswork.
Thanks for your kind words Mike. Happy you enjoyed it.
Oh lucky you for getting to see the goings on and oh lucky us that you shared it with us so well!
Thanks Kathy! I’m truly lucky for having these guys close by. And now waiting for the nesting season to start…I can feel it in the air already 🙂
Wonderful photos!
Thanks kindly Julie!
Delightful opportunity and what a cute way to share the story of it! Thanks, Tiny! This makes my morning!
Thanks Cyndi. Waving from the west side…have a wonderful Sunday!
What a treat Tiny!! I love how Papa Osprey takes everything in his stride.
Swans migrate in a field in front of my Mother’s house in Scotland. It takes your breath away to see so many beautiful creatures in one place. (The farmer isn’t so happy though …)
Val x
Yes, Papa Osprey is always so cool headed….and I understand if some people are not quite delighted with these migrants if they select a conference venue without first asking for permission 🙂
Great captures Tiny! What a perfect habitat for wading birds! Thanks for the wonderful post! 🙂
Thanks H.J.! This little marsh is truly a great habitat for these types of birds, but there are also other birds in the park. I have heard owls and woodpeckers too, but have not spotted them as yet, and of course a variety of small “song birds”.
Well what a wonderful conference this is and how lucky for you to be able to observe and capture all their activities! Phenomenal!
So true, it was a great conference with so much activity I wished there would have been a few more of me running around with a camera!
A marvellous story by pics, Helen. And so it is that all creatures great and small share life’s ups and downs.. Though I believe PO’s quarters, high above the bedlam, is possibly the best position to be had.
And yes, the weekend was peaceful and calm. No migrating ‘anything’ to ruffle my feathers.. 😉 😉
Your weekend sounds great! I think (or feel rather) that PO is now waiting for his spouse to arrive and will not be ruffled by anything else 🙂 Yesterday when writing my book I observed an osprey circling past my office window…I rushed on to terrace with my camera and got a poor shot…it could, possibly, be Mama Osprey, but I can’t be sure.
So cute. PO and MO are becoming celebrities. 🙂
Here’s hoping your book comes along with ease; or as much ease as is humanly possible…
Thanks Carolyn. Some days there is a great flow and others…well, it’s a struggle. But it’s getting there, I hope.
Fall’s rapidly approaching. Many of our birds will soon be with you, I imagine. We may get -7C tonight, but, fortunately they won’t as they enjoy the hospitality of Florida!
I’ll welcome them all here! A couple of days in the salt marsh will do wonders to tired wings and offers a great buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner! We take good care of our guests 🙂 I hope your fall will last a bit longer and the winter will wait patiently.
It always gets a bit wild, even for humans, when unexpected guests drop by. What excitement.
That was a nice surprise to find all these (mostly big) guys there! Today I found some small guys I had not captured before…’til later 🙂
Thank you my friend ,I like your blog ,with love maxima
Thanks for visiting, Maxima. Have a great day!
Love the little blue heron!
This little guy is a permanent resident in the salt marsh, I saw him latest yesterday.
Just sent you an e-mail (at your tinylessons e-mail address) with links to the 2016 Nature Conservancy Photo Contest. Your photos are stellar!
Thank you, Nancy! Will check it out.