The Power Of Concentration

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I was at Sweetwater Wetlands a few days ago just at sunrise.  I was delighted to see two wading birds foraging at water’s edge, standing nearly side to side.

The bird in the foreground is a Snowy Egret.  In the background is a much larger cousin, a Great Egret.  It was fascinating to watch these two work.  Both of them stood absolutely motionless for minutes at a time, each staring intently at the water.  When prey (presumably a small fish) swam within reach of one of the birds it would strike with almost lightning-like speed, far faster than the human eye can follow.  It would quickly swallow and then, immediately, resume hunting.  I watched this pair for over 1/2 hour.  Neither acknowledged each other’s presence, neither changed its position even once.  What concentration!

Image made with a Canon 5Diii, 400 DO, aperture preferred setting, ISO 640, f6.3 @ 1/800.