Snowy Egret show off.
You’ve heard “no one likes a show-off” … I’m not sure that’s true when it comes to nature.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL
April 13, 2022
Snowy Egret, Around Palm Trunk
Category Archives: Wading Birds
Territorial Dispute: Snowy Egret vs Tricolored Heron, Part 2
Now what turned into some beak clacking.
Size isn’t everything, but sometimes it helps.
Finally the Tricolored Heron made a full body move…
…pushing the Snowy Egret off his perch.
The Tricolored Heron got tangled up in the palm fronds for a few seconds, but not apparent damage.
Territorial Dispute: Snowy Egret vs Tricolored Heron, Part 1
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL
April 13, 2022
Territorial Dispute: Snowy Egret vs Tricolored Heron, Part 1
Get back!
No, you get back!
We’re both back, now what?
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL
April 13, 2022
Cattle Egrets Working On Nest
A number of Cattle Egrets were nesting around the rookery, including this one that was working on some finishing touches.
Another seemed all settled in on the next palm tree.
Last, one that was taking a break from his hard work, giving me a nice view of his breeding colors.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL
April 13, 2022
Snowy Egret, Showing Off
This Snowy Egret was showing off his breeding plumage and his flexible feet.
Snowy Egret, Breeding PlumageSt. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL
April 13, 2022
Roseate Spoonbill Chicks
These Roseate Spoonbill chicks were about to get fed, and they were ready!
There were at least three chicks, the two in the middle and check out the lower left corner:
The way the adult facing away from us kept poking down below her mate I wondered if there was a fourth chick out of my view.
A little wider view showing more of the palm tree.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, FL
April 13, 2022
Great Egret Chick Pair, Prequel
After I posted Great Egret Chick Pair yesterday I remembered I had taken some pictures earlier this spring at their nest. They aren’t great images, but I thought interesting as part of yesterday’s story.
On April 29 the adult was laying on the nest, presumable incubating eggs. At that point based on previous years’ outcomes I didn’t have much hope for a productive nest.
Then on May 17th I discovered the chicks had not only hatched but grown enough to be visible.
I’d say a week to ten days old as a guess.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 29 and May 17, 2022
Great Egret Chick Pair
Again this year a pair of Great Egrets attempted to raise a family in a pine bough just off the nature trail at Ravenswood Pond.
Different this year is that they have had success, at least so far. Two years ago the eggs were not viable and last year there were two or three chicks but they did not live long.
Survival rate for chicks is pretty low, and looking at this flimsy nest you can easily identify a few dangers plus they have a number of predators.
In the mean-time, these two have some shade…
and they look well fed.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 10, 2022
Yellow-crowned Night-heron, On The Hunt
A Yellow-crowned Night-heron was hunting along the edge of a small pond, wading into the grass rather than the water.
Success!
I have no idea what the meal was.
It went down the hatch in one quick gulp.
May 22, 2021
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
Roseate Spoonbills Preening and SnoozingÂ
This bowl of Roseate Spoonbills have found a cozy spot to hang out.
A housing development is being built behind this pond so it probably won’t remain a viable spot for the birds.
