This series was taken just after the sun came up a few weeks ago.
There were long shadows on the pond and the light was changing rapidly.
Two to Tango: A brief territorial spat…
While one Great Egret circled around…
…the other opted to fly off.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 23, 2023
I only know from watching a successful try at this hovering maneuver that this Great Egret’s intention was to catch a fish.
Nothing caught his eye on this pass and he never touched the water. After about a four second hover he flew to a tree.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 5, 2023
Most of the bigger birds I’ve watched nesting gather sticks off the ground or take easily snapped dead limbs for their nesting materials.
Anhingas prefer live branches.
It may have something to do with their feet and ability to land in live trees.
This fellow wasn’t having much luck and dropped at least one branch in the water below.
He made an empty trip back to the nest but pretty quickly returned to try again.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 23, 2023
I didn’t see this Great Egret drop into the water on this trip. And it sure is tough to see how he knew the fish was there in all that duck weed.
I’d watched him make some unsuccessful passes just touching his feet to the water, but this trip was a winner!
Back to his starting point he went…
…a nice graceful landing onto the unoccupied ramp.
He stood there holding the fish for a minute or so before he swallowed it.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 23, 2023
Squadrons of Brown Pelicans entertained me as I was waiting for the sun to set.
A few glided right over my head.
This fellow surprised me, coming in low from the other direction.
February 6, 2023
Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023
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.
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
In flight the Black-bellied Whistling Duck shows off a snazzy wing pattern.
This one opted to leave the pack and head off on his own for a bit…
showing off that bright bill, which will look more pink in breeding season.
Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023
Orlando Wetlands Park is 1650 acres of man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.
A lone Black Skimmer was fishing for his dinner at the end of the day.
Here you can clearly see the lower jaw extends much further than the upper…
…making it easier to snag prey from the water.
This is my favorite from this set, even though he got so close I cut his wings off.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 18, 2023
A Great Blue Heron starting to show some of the colored lures around his eye of breeding season was on a mission to gather sticks for his nest.
He went at a steady pace past some Coots.
Then he veered just a little before he turned away from me on his mission.
Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023
