Tag Archives: Bird Behavior

Wanna Rumble? Part 3

It turned out to be more about something to do than possession of the branch for the Great Egret and he soon dropped into the water.

Great Egret
Great Egret

The Roseate Spoonbill settled in…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

… had a stretch…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

…worked one leg…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

then the other…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 19, 2023

Wanna Rumble? Part 2

The Great Egret won this standoff, with the Roseate Spoonbill re-locating.

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret
Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret

A quick maneuver…

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret
Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret

…flaps up…

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret
Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret

And the Roseate Spoonbill settled on the other side of the tree.

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

While the Great Egret took the high point on the branch.

Great Egret
Great Egret

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 19, 2023

Red-headed Woodpecker & Blue Jay

There was a lot of bird chase action in the upper reaches of some pine trees I passed.

Blue Jay and Red-headed Woodpecker
Blue Jay and Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker

I thought the Blue Jay was the aggressor, he was certainly making the most noise.

Blue Jay and Red-headed Woodpecker
Blue Jay and Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker

Multiple individuals of both species were involved. Some of the Red-headed woodpeckers were adults, with a few juveniles as seen above mixed in.

Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay
Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay

I watched them go back and forth for about 20 minutes and never figured out what the ruckus was about.

Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay
Red-headed Woodpecker and Blue Jay

Both were showing off their flying skills, and maybe that was the point.

Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 19, 2023

Little Blue Heron Checking The Sky

This Little Blue Heron has just a few remnants of his juvenile white feathers. By next year’s breeding season he’ll be a full adult and completely blue.

Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron

He seemed to have something to say, and I was expecting him to fly.

Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron

What?

Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron

I have no idea what caught his eye, but he did not fly.

Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron

He did, however, give the sky a good look.

Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
August 20, 2023

Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf

Follow up to “From The Frying Pan”

These images were taken on a dull, grey morning, not the best light for far off action photos. But it was interesting, especially the Great Blue Heron’s behavior as I thought they were done nesting. He was defending his spot as if their were eggs or small chicks there.

Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023

From The Frying Pan…

These images were taken on a dull, grey morning, not the best light for far off action photos. But it was interesting, especially the Great Blue Heron’s behavior as I thought they were done nesting. He was defending his spot as if their were eggs or small chicks there.

This Great Egret tried landing at the top of this tree, but was quickly got the vibe that he should move on from the other occupants.

v
Great Egret Leaping From Tree

No worries, just drop down to the next level…

Great Egret Leaping From Tree
Great Egret Leaping From Tree

Here’s a spot…

Great Egret Breaks On
Great Egret Breaks On

He wasn’t welcome here, either, as the Great Blue Heron was facing off with a pair of Great Egrets to the right.

Great Egret Into Kerfuffle
Great Egret Into Kerfuffle

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023

Wood Storks Clacking

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…

Wood Storks
Wood Storks

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.

Wood Storks
Wood Storks

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

Wood Storks
Wood Storks

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.

Wood Storks
Wood Storks

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 2, 2023

Great Blue Heron Repurposing The Skinny Tree Nest

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

Great Blue Heron at Skinny Tree
Great Blue Heron at Skinny Tree

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
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.

Great Blue Heron at Skinny Tree, Stealing Sticks
Great Blue Heron at Skinny Tree, Stealing Sticks

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

Great Blue Heron Leaving Skinny Tree with Stolen Stick
Great Blue Heron Leaving Skinny Tree with Stolen Stick

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

Great Blue Heron Leaving Skinny Tree with Stolen Stick
Great Blue Heron Leaving Skinny Tree with Stolen Stick

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