Yellow-crowned Night Heron Tank Top

We found several Yellow-crowned Night Herons along the River Walk in San Antonio, Texes. Each was in its own treee, and some of the birds were busy building nests. The stocky wading bird is related to egrets. There are two night herons in the United States, the other one is called the Black-crowned Night Heron. Both like to hunt at night, mainly crustaceans and crayfish. The bird has a glossy black head, with a yellow crown, white cheeks, and orange to red eyes. It has a large bill and blue-gray feathers on its body. The long feathers growing out the back of its head, along with the reddish legs and feet, show that this bird is in breeding season.

As fifth generation Californian, I mostly specialize in California photography. I am are inspired by the landscapes and seascapes of the Pacific Coast and its beach communities. However, my galleries also show an eclectic mix of images with a variety of subjects and places. When I visit an area, I try to tell the story of that area with images. I may take the “big” image of the location, but we will also look for what is overlooked, for the things that make an area unique and finish the story. I often use close cropping and square format to zero in on a subject, making a tiny piece of the whole become the new focus. I like to capture details such as color, patterns and textures. I am also drawn to nostalgia, vintage,...