Today was an interesting day from a photography perspective. I did not set-off intending to take pictures. I needed to make a trip to Horicon Marsh Federal Visitor Station to pick up photo credentials for Monday. Of course, you never head somewhere that a photo may exist without a camera, so I packed my camera and 500mm lens in the back seat.

As travels began, I knew it wouldn’t be a great picture day. The sky was cloudy, with mist in the air. We were coming off several inches of rain, and the forecast was to be foggy, cloudy and damp all day.

Shortly after departing, a Double Crested Cormorant was spotted, sitting in a lake a hundred yards or so from shore. Every time I see one in the wild, they put on a show. This Cormorant was no exception. Wings stretched out standing on one leg, he looked like he was doing yoga in the fog. I was able to capture a few interesting photos until he flew away.

As I approached Horicon, I quickly realized this day was going to be a fabulous one for seeing nature in its glory. Bald Eagles drying their wings, White Egrets sitting amongst vivid green lily pads just feet from shore, Grey Heron were plentiful, Green Heron jumping out of the tall grass feet away, Mallard and Wood Ducks within feet, coots hanging out in some backwaters and Sand Hill Cranes in every farmers’ field.

The quality of the photos today was average at best. But the scenes captured were some that are few and far between. I was lucky, I was able to be in the Marsh today and see all of this. The fact that the pictures aren’t show worthy doesn’t dampen my spirit. All I had to do was take a few minutes, thinking back to why I take pictures (capture images of natures’ beauty while I can) and it was then I realized that the day was a great success. All this despite lacking crispness, sharpness or color perfect images. Thanks for reading, and more importantly, thanks for enjoying my photos.