rivercrow

There’s a fantastic botanical garden here. I’ve been spending two to three hours there every weekend I’m in town, mostly hanging out in the swamp area.

The first day I was there, a dragonfly cooperated with me. I had the 50mm 1.8 and a 2x closeup filter. He (blue dasher) reared into an obelisk pose while I crept toward him, finally reaching apogee when I snapped this pic. Then he took off. I was about 1-2 feet from him.

I noticed then it was about 2 pm. I’d been at the gardens for a couple hours in the close to 100 degree heat. Stupidly, I had not brought water. I decided to head for water and air conditioning. On the way back to the exit, I came across a small pond with a picturesque concrete temple on a peninsula. My husband likes things like that, so I was concentrating on getting a good shot for him. A noise or something caught my attention — I looked up to see a great blue heron within 10 feet of me. I started backing away, concerned that it would take off, then recalled I had a camera in hand. At least I’d remembered to take off the closeup filter.

All within 10-15 feet, and me light-headed from the excitement and the heat.

Then I realized it was hunting. I missed the great shot when the bird was submerged in the water, but here it is with the fish.

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