An American Avocet strutting his stuff…

slowly strutting his stuff…

First to my right…

Undecided…

Then back the way he came.

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 2, 2023
I was quite surprised to see two American Avocet flying by at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens last week. The big rice field pond has been drained in preparation for repairs and a controlled burn and all sorts of water birds have stopped by.
The Avocet are one of my favorite birds with their understated color scheme, graceful posture and elegant beak.
The pair looped around me twice but I didn’t get them in the same frame again.
And I didn’t see where they landed, or if they just continued on their way.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 3, 2022
After seeing Colorful Pond Reflections, another corner of the pond the water just reflected the blue sky. Not a bad look for this pair of American Avocets.
They paraded back and forth…
…not in any hurry…
…occasionally probing the mud for a snack.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
February 23, 2022
Vegetation on the pond bank made a colorful reflection around a flock of American Avocets as they waded back and forth getting breakfast.
Interestingly, a Bald Eagle was perched in a pine tree on the bank.
I was expecting him to swoop down for his own breakfast, but he eventually flew off the other way.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
February 23, 2022
American Avocet are an attractive bird and their method of feeding with that upturned beak is fun to watch. Often they will go back and forth repeatedly in the same area.
On this day they weren’t too interested in showing off themselves or their skills and soon disappeared behind this clump of grass.
American Avocet aren’t the only birds in these images, but I haven’t seen one in awhile so thought I’d give them top billing. And I really like them with their snazzy color scheme.
I sure was hoping they would fly closer to my side of the pond.
Instead they disappeared on the other side of the marsh.
I had to peek between the tall reeds around the pond to get a limited view but it was still fun to watch these American Avocets feed.
Most of what they eat is very small so they have to spend a lot of time at it, methodically working back and forth.
These two made a striking sight across the pond, just standing around in the grass stubble.
A quartet of American Avocets worked their way back and forth in the shallow water, feeding as they went.
The early morning light was behind them creating reflections in the still water.
Avocets eat little bits of things they find probing in the mud, generally unidentifiable bits from the photographer’s vantagepoint.