Yellow-crowned Night Heron Close-up (he refused a full body shot), Alligator Lake, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Texas.

The weather was uncharacteristically grey and gloomy during our weekend getaway to the Valley, but it did provide me with ample opportunity to better my low lighting photography skills, as well as test out the Canon 100-400mm telephoto lens I rented (normally I shoot with a Canon 55-250mm lens.) Our first stop was Estero Llano Grande State Park. At Alligator Lake we stumbled across about a half dozen Yellow-crowned Night Herons, which I always love observing due to their quirkiness and odd behavior. They just aren’t suave and graceful like other herons and egrets! This one happened to be quite rotund compared to the ones I typically observe. He was displeased with our presence:

Yellow-crowned Night Heron Expressing Extreme Annoyance, Alligator Lake, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Texas.