A cold December morning with temperatures hovering around six degrees below freezing. Stacking up multiple layers of clothing to brave the cold, we set out to photograph the winter waterfowls of the southern shore of Long Island, at the beautiful hamlet of Bellmore.
As the day progresses, there is no respite from the cold – fingers and toes frozen, lips numbed and barely feeling oneself as the wind from the waters pierce the face. As we walk across the trail, we are greeted by a spectacular sight of a raft of ducks, geese, swans and gulls bathing in the golden morning sunlight in the blue waters; two mute swans wading through the silent waters one behind the other, cleansing their snow white feathers; Shovelers and American black ducks gliding in and out of their swamps, male and female mallards chasing each other. The emptiness of the freezing morning is suddenly filled with action and we set the shutters in motion as these beautiful wonders fill up the frames.
Three hours on, the wind getting harsher by the hour, we head to Jones beach. The water at the beach glitters as if it were filled with floating diamonds. Watching the Gulls along with the waves surfing up and down and one little Black Bellied Plover treading courageously towards the sea as the waves recess and running back as the waves slash back is beautiful enough to make the piercing chill winds almost seem bearable.
Despite the mind-numbing cold of the day, the experience of watching and photographing these marvelous birds has been a pleasure.
Black-bellied Plover
![]( "Black-bellied Plover")
Hooded Merganser
Northern Shoveler
Herring Gull
