#holgate

2•26•2018 chasing sunsets

A Need to Focus Heat shimmer made photographing this great egret anything but spectacular until it decided to fly away. When ground temperatures are sufficient, convection causes significant temperature variation between the warmer surface and cooler, denser air above. This creates a gradient in the refractive index, leading to a blur in an image. The effect is magnified by telephoto lenses so that at 1200 mm the image can be blurry even when the camera has focused properly. Once the bird lifted into the cooler air above, the photographs were crisp. If only those moments would last longer! #GreatEgret #holgate https://www.instagram.com/p/B2q2bXIAHNu/?igshid=vrcyle548qn

Red Knot Blue Not Rare are the moments when the light is perfect, the tide serene, and the wildlife cooperative. Of course, not everything was perfect. Despite a wonderfully refreshing breeze and ideal temperature, the New Jersey State Birds - Greenhead Flies, were feasting on our flesh and draining us of life-sustaining blood! The sacrifice was well worth the effort, however, as a small flock of migrating red knots were congenial enough to allow our proximity and gracious enough to share their stretch of beach. We will be checking in for blood transfusions later this evening at SOCH if you need us! #RedKnots #holgate (at Long Beach Island, NJ) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2COl-5gEli/?igshid=1arv8ahdme20d

It's one of my favorite migrations of the year. Tree swallows gather on the ends of the island by the tens of thousands. Some may never leave and spend most if not all of winter here but most will travel to warmer climates until spring. Capturing them in flight isn't easy but it sure is fun! #TreeSwallows #holgate (at Long Beach Island, NJ) https://www.instagram.com/p/B19nC-ZAsrP/?igshid=1nk0hcm7m4d8l

Winter beach days 🌞🌊