This Common Yellowthroat Warbler was a cheery sight on a recent cool morning.
Good Morning, Common Yellowthroat
All posts by Ellen Jennings
American Avocets
I watched a group of American Avocets milling around in a shallow pond, some wading and some flying in small hops following whatever they were feeding on.
American AvocetsTwo did fly by fairly close to me and I hoped they would land for a close up shot, but they kept right on going to the other side of the pond.
American Avocets in FlightAnother group landed a bit closer, then waded out of view.
American Avocets in FlightTaken 2/25/2019
Little Blue In The Blue
A Little Blue Heron plodded in the shallow water of a pond right in front of me.
He was very deliberate in his steps.
His forward motion hardly made the water ripple.
2/25/2019 Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
Glossy Ibis Feeding
I’ve only seen Glossy Ibis a few times in South Carolina and was surprised to come upon this one feeding in an old rice field pond at the end of February.
Ibis will eat about anything they find while probing mud or wetlands.
When they turn in the light the Glossy Ibis’ colors are spectacular.
Wood Storks in Canal
I spotted several Wood Storks wading in an overgrown rice field canal. Taken back in February, the grasses were just starting to show some new life adding a bit of color to a brown scene.
This pair was wading and feeding in synchronous motion, back and forth in this small open area.
Overshot The Nest
This Great Egret was busy bringing sticks to the nest.
It was quite breezy and on this landing he overshot the nest.
Lean into it and move your neighbor off at the same time!
The female on the nest did not get up to receive the new nesting materials, perhaps because she was laying on eggs. The nest is skimpy looking and could use some more support before the chicks are moving about.
GBH: Swapping Nest Duty
The Great Blue Heron on the nest usually alerts when the mate is returning giving the photographer a moment or two to figure out the direction before touch down occurs.
These two showed off their finery as part of the greeting ritual.
In this case the GBH that had been on the nest wasted little time on the greeting, immediately swooping off to do her thing. It was late afternoon and she wasn’t going to have much time to feed before dark.
GBH: On The Nest
There is not much for a heron to do while incubating eggs.
Occasionally they will stand up and poke at the nest.
Then settle back down in a different direction.
The Skinny Tree, 3/7/2019
How Do You Choose?
Sometimes the best nesting material is the hardest to procure.
Great Egret Dance and Build
This Great Egret wasn’t having much luck attracting a mate with his beautiful dancing but that didn’t stop him from working on a nest.
He had a good location in the tree and I suspect did not want to give it up to go searching for building materials. With a mate selected one would stay on the nest site to keep intruders away.
Instead he grabbed pieces from the limbs around him, continuing to display those gorgeous tail feathers.
Taken 3/13/2019
