Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Nearly Five Hours Later and the Great Egret is Still Having Problems Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). It finally got it part way down its neck, but then didn’t look like it could fly.

Nearly Five Hours Later and the Great Egret is Still Having Problems Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). It finally got it part way down its neck, but then didn't look like it could fly. (David J Mathre)
Nearly Five Hours Later and the Great Egret is Still Having Problems Swallowing the Fish. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Ringed-Billed Gull Calling out like a Wolf for its Friends to Join in Harassing a Great Egret with a Fish too big to Swallow. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). I came back to the same spot several hours later, and the Great Egret was still trying to swallow the fish. It finally got it part way down its neck, but then didn’t look like it could fly.

Ringed-Billed Gull Calling out like a Wolf for its Friends to Join in Harassing a Great Egret with a Fish too big to Swallow. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). I came back to the same spot several hours later, and the Great Egret was still trying to swallow the fish. It finally got it part way down its neck, but then didn't look like it could fly. (David J Mathre)
Ringed-Billed Gull Calling out like a Wolf for its Friends to Join in Harassing a Great Egret with a Fish too big to Swallow. Image taken with a Nikon D3s camera and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec).

Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Tricolored Heron and Reflection in the Early Morning Sun at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon Df camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 100, 500 mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Three-Years Ago (04-February-2014) — Florida

Gone to See America. February 2014 Florida Road Trip. Day 4: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Almost in — Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec).

Almost in -- Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Almost in — Great Egret Swallowing the Fish. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 320, 600 mm, f/4, 1/1250 sec). (David J Mathre)

One-Year Ago (25-January-2016) — Japan

Gone to See the World. Semester at Sea Spring 2016 Voyage on the MV World Odyssey. Day 20: Hakone,  Japan.

Smelts and Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop in Hakone while waiting for the “pirate ship” ride on Lake Ashi. The waitress at the restaurant kept asking if I knew what Smelts were, and did I really want them… I tried to explain I grew up in Minnesota, and my Grandfather got us Smelts from Lake Superior. It was Number 14 on the menu. I would go back, the bowl was empty when I was done.

Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a  Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Menu at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Empty Bowl of Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)
Empty Bowl of Smelt and Buckwheat Noodle Soup at the Soba Noodle Shop. Across from the Pier at Lake Ashi in Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone. Image taken with a Fuji X-T1 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens. (David J Mathre)