Tag Archives: Bird Behavior

Wood Storks Clacking

April 13, 2023 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

While watching a group of wading birds feed I kept hearing a clacking or crunching noise. I checked the Alligators, as I’ve seen them catch dinner plate sized blue crabs in this pond then crunch-crunch them…

Then I spotted it: the two right hand birds in this group of Wood Storks was doing some beak clacking or snapping. I couldn’t tell if it was all beak on beak, or if the individuals were also clapping their own beaks. Either was it was a pretty dramatic sound effect.

The behavior didn’t appear to be aggressive and I don’t know if it had some breeding implication.

A couple of the others just went on with their preening, the two on the right had a long look at the sky, then it was over.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 2, 2023

Wading Birds

Great Blue Heron Repurposing The Skinny Tree Nest

February 4, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

It seems that the Great Blue Heron couple have abandoned nesting at the Skinny Tree sometime in the last week.

Another enterprising GBH spent a couple hours on Tuesday removing material from what had appeared to be a robust nest.

Great Blue Heron at Skinny Tree, Stealing Sticks

This heron’s nest is just at the other end of the pond, in the big island.

He made lots of trips mostly with small branches while I was watching.

Of course it is not theft to them, it is taking advantage of easy pickings.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 31, 2023

Duck

Black-bellied Whistling Duck Kerfuffle

January 26, 2023 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

Several groups of 10-20 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were scattered around the first pond at Orlando Wetlands. Most of them were resting or quietly feeding. Then there was this group.

They were creating quite a flap, one or two flying straight up a few feet then wham, dropping into the middle of the group.

It seems too early in the year to be a breeding/territory thing. And there appeared to be plenty of food to go around.

A couple of Coots were unperturbed by the action.

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Wading Birds

Wood Stork Out For A Walk

January 7, 2023 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

To get to the other side?

Didn’t want to scare the rabbit–further down by the puddle?

Didn’t feel like flying?

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022

Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbill Taking His Share Out Of The Middle

November 5, 2022 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

While the Snowy Egret pretended not to notice, the Roseate Spoonbill hopped to the front of the old duck blind frame.

And two-stepped his way closer to the Snowy Egret.

Who may still have been pretending, but he slid a bit closer to the end.

And there they stood…for a few minutes.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 11, 2022

Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbill Finding His Spot

November 4, 2022 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I hoped to see the sun rise this morning, a nice late 7:40 am. Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday and we go back to having to get up at O’dark thirty to get out anywhere to see that spectacle.

Instead an odd high fog kept the sun hidden until after 10:30. In the meantime, there were plenty of birds flying around, including a few Roseate Spoonbills that seemed to be at odds about where to land.

This one finally chose the already occupied frame of an old duck blind.

Nailed the landing.

Roseate Spoonbill Landing Next To Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret pretended not to notice.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 11, 2022

Wading Birds

King of the Hill: Roseate Spoonbill

July 11, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

The Roseate Spoonbill from my previous post hopped up on a small snag as the Tricolored Heron moved on. Being king of the hill or the first to occupy any object sticking out of the water seems to be a common Spoonbill behavior.

It was something of a balancing act as the upturned roots didn’t provide a perch that looked suitable for those feet.

He soon thought better of the idea and jumped down…

…making an easy water landing.

Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022

Wading Birds

Follow The Leader: Roseate Spoonbill and Tricolored Heron

July 11, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Note: this post was supposed to get published this morning before “King of the Hill” and for some unknown reason is marked “Missed Schedule.” Not sure what is up with that, but here it is … I hope.

Wading birds often take advantage of another bird of their own or a different species leading the way as they feed.

Roseate Spoonbill Following Tricolored Heron

It can work both ways.

The Spoonbill will benefit from the edible morsels that get stirred up by the Heron’s passing by as he sifts the water.

The Heron is looking for larger prey, which also can reveal their position as the birds wade around.

These two birds stuck together for several minutes until the Spoonbill got distracted by another activity, seen in my next post.

Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022

Water Birds

Common Gallinule Pair Having a Spat

May 11, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Two Common Gallinules were making a splash.

A little dispute ensued…

A point was made…

Face off!

Ok, it’s all over, nothing more to see…

Or not!

Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022

Wading Birds

Reddish Egret Session Photobombed

May 7, 2022 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

There is no etiquette amongst the wading birds.

Birds just drop in on each other, no announcement necessary.

You were busy fishing, I’ll share your spot.

Reddish Egret, Glossy Ibis dropping in, Tricolored Heron flying by

Maybe just hop a bit further on.

I don’t know if they actually touched, but it sure was close.

The Reddish Egret never kept to his path and the Ibis did keep moving. Once the Ibis touched down he didn’t look as big as with his wings out.

According to Cornell’s All About Birds, the Glossy Ibis at 19-26 inches(48-66 cm) in length is slightly smaller than the Reddish Egret at 28-31 inches (70-80 cm).

Black Point Wildlife Drive
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022