Calm Reflections Photography shares beautiful photographs that can be placed on mugs, mouse pads, canvas, puzzles, T-shirts, coasters and prints. Joanna Macaulay makes souvenirs of St. Mary’s County for tourists and local residents. Information about St. Mary’s County attractions, travel, events and photography can be found at her site. She now does pet photography as well.
We visited Point Lookout State Park on a gorgeous sunny day when the sky matched the water, due to a light haze, creating a fantasy look. The tankers in the bay appeared to be floating in the sky. We visited several locations, the fishing pier, the Point, the causeway, and the dog beach. The dog beach was deserted when I arrived and a Great blue heron had taken up residence.
Great Blue Herons can stay remarkably still till they go in for the kill. They are very skittish around people, making them difficult to photograph if they see you. They have amazingly curved necks and only weigh 5-6 pounds. They have excellent night vision and don’t mate for life. I love how fast and smoothly they glide through the air.
Since the osprey left, another feathered visitor, the Great Blue Heron, takes turns with the bald eagle. They don’t seem to mind sharing the same lookout spot and each sometimes visits several times a day, just not at the same time.
We also photographed many large birds on the river by the small fishing village of Celestun (see the colorful flamingos in my previous post). The birds were incredible there.
We recently spent a few hours in the Northern Neck of Virginia to pick up some special wood. We stopped to enjoy lunch and the view on a beautiful day at Westmoreland. I loved the crescent shaped beaches facing the cliffs. I spotted a great blue heron close to the cliffs.
It doesn't take very long for the bald eagles and great blue herons to visit after the osprey fly south.
This pair of eagles was sharing a meal. They tend to mate for life, just like swans, turtle doves, gibbons, black vultures and wolves, to name a few.
Great blue heron
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
January! After being
inside a little too much lately, I decided to use the ”Birding in Southern Maryland” brochure by the
Southern Maryland Audubon Society to get out of the house and check out some local birds. I got a copy of the brochure from the St.
Mary’s County Department of Tourism and I also included the online link. I armed myself with my new Sigma 150-500 mm
lens and my Nikon D600. The brochure turned
out to be accurate. The information in
the brochure took me to a nearby swampy farming area not far from the
water. I quickly saw a bald eagle before
I could pull out my camera. I later
spotted a great blue heron in a field, lots of bluebirds sitting on a wire and three
European Starlings sharing some branches.
If you want to try birding, I can recommend the brochure.
Our last poodle was a sweet senior dog when we started to care for her. As she got slower, we knew we would miss her very much when she left us. I started taking more photos of her. I wish we had lots of puppy pictures, but we couldnt go back in time to get them. Pet photography can create memories that you will never forget. You dont want to miss pictures of their puppyhood, their quirky personalities or their life. My goal is to give you lasting memories of your pet and have a little fun at a photo session at the same time!
Co-founder of St. Marys County Camera Club in 1998. Official Photographer for the Chesapeake Orchestra.
Awards: Advanced Digital Photo of the Year for Camera Club 2009, 2010, 2014-2016 (Dragonflies, Point No Point Lighthouse, Two Eagles Squawking, Baby Gorilla, Michigan Beach). St. Mary's County Fair Champion Winner 1998 and 2012. Photo judge St. Marys County Fair photography Division for 2011, 2013-2016. Advanced Photographer of the Year 2012 and 2014.