Jeff Seneca

A Cape Cod early cloudy morning.

The elegant Great Egret hunts in the classic heron fashion. It stands very still as the unsuspecting prey swims closer. Then lighting quick they jab their long yellow bill into their meal. As you can see in the picture above, they are very good.

This chunky fellow can often be seen riding on the backs of cattle picking off insects and ticks.

With it's long stilt like pink legs, needle pointed bill this black and white beauty takes on a very delicate appearance as it wades through mudflats, salt ponds, marshes, flooded pastures and wetlands, foraging for food.

With up to a 9' wingspan this huge waterbird has a long, massive bill. In breeding season adults will grow an unusual horn type projection on the upper part of the bill near the tip.

I found this migrating Whimbrel at the Wellfleet Audubon in Cape Cod. He probably stopped to grab some food before continuing his trip south. Whimbrels like to eat Fiddler Crabs as the curve in their beak fits neatly into the crab's curved burrow. He than pulls out a tasty treat.

A Great Blue Heron in breeding plumage is a stunning sight.

A Great Blue glides silently over the still water looking for a good spot to hunt fish.

Egrets will often try to steal food. Here, one has its eye on a fish which happens to already be in the bill of a competitor.

Nickerson Beach is adjacent to Jones Beach on Long Island. The beach is protected and parts are marked off for breeding shore birds such as Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Common and Least Terns.

Here a loving mom provides some cool shade for her chicks. When she moved I counted 3 under her.

Catching what he hopes will be a nice gift for his soon to be mate.