Another Lifer at Gulf State Park, Lake Shelby
On Christmas day someone reported 600 American Coot at Lake Shelby, a part of the Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Well, 600 coots sounds pretty fun so the following morning I made my way to the lake.
When I arrived at the lake I did not find 600 coots. I found three. Three coots in the middle of the lake, too far to photograph, just mocking me. Well, poot on those coots. I walked around the park and all I could find was some Northern Mockingbirds, perched high like sentinels keeping watch over their domain. Almost giving up, I walked to another part of the lake where I could see a small group of about dozen ducks 100 yards out. It was a mix of Ring-necked ducks, Lesser Scaup, and Bufflehead. Well, that’s something.
A couple of female Buffleheads splintered off the main group and came closer to shore. I went a little ahead of them and laid down on the shoreline so that they would swim towards me. That worked and I managed to get this shot.
Bufflehead. Two females. Nikon Z9 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/8.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 450.
While photographing the Bufflehead a gentleman approached and the Bufflehead left for deeper waters. I could tell the man was a birder because of the binoculars hanging from the strap around his neck. We talked a bit and he provided some tips of where I might look in other areas around Gulf Shores. About that time we both noticed a solitary Horned Grebe approach. Now, I have never seen a Horned Grebe much less photograph one so this was a Lifer for me. We both got quiet and the grebe approached even closer than the Buffleheads. It was fantastic. I took a few thousand photos, but here are two of my favorites.
Horned Grebe. A “lifer” for me. What amazing eyes! Nikon Z9 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/10, 1/2000 sec, ISO 560.
Horned Grebe. Nikon Z9 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/10, 1/2000 sec, ISO 560.
Leaving the Horned Grebe, I walked to a pavilion along the lake. There I found a Loggerhead Shrike perched at eye level in a tree. I kept my distance and took the following shot. I took a second shot of the bird looking directly at me and heavily cropped it in post. What do you think? Do you like the heavy crop?
Loggerhead Shrike. Notice the hooked bill of this raptor-like bird. Nikon Z9 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 640.
Loggerhead Shrike. Nikon Z9 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 640.
My last stop in the park was around the boat launch. There I found a couple of female Pied-billed Grebes swimming around the pier. The reflection of the pier actually worked in the following photo, as it provided a dark backdrop for the droplets of water coming off the bird as she shook to dry.
Pied-billed Grebe. A little shake to dry off. Nikon Z9 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/8, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1800.
While I didn’t find 600 American Coots, I ended up having a nice day at the park and photographed a new bird. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but that’s pretty normal when birding.
Happy birding!
