Tricolored Heron, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia

Just another day in paradise! That's how it felt on this particular day at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Where else can you travel and find Life List birds everywhere you turn. At least where I'm concerned anyway. I probably don't need to remind you that I hail from the great state of Kentucky where Bluegrass and Thoroughbreds reign supreme. But here on the Eastern Shore, the horses aren't corralled. They run wild going where the wind takes them. And the refuge is wild with shore birds and wading birds numbering in the hundreds.

As I pulled off of the road along the refuge motor route, I sat in my car and watched this Tricolored Heron as he stealthily stalked his prey. The late afternoon light was upon us reflecting in the emerald green waters of the lagoon. With his reflection staring back at him, he stood stone cold still, the only motion were tiny ripples in the water as insects came and went.