I’ve commented before on birds’ desire to occupy the highest point. This applies even if it is just a clump of sticks in the pond. We’ve had a lot of wind lately and small branches and other debris is getting pushed around in the ponds. This Great Egret found an attractive twig collection to drop in on.
Then it started to sink and he took off, straight up into the air.
One flap of the wings and he was off.
Banking smoothly left he decided to try another spot.
After watching the relatively sedate Bonaparte’s Gulls Feeding at the beach a Forster’s Tern came along and showed off some different flying skills.
It was all about speed.
Hover, dive and repeat.
With the rolling waves and lack of contrast I didn’t get a full splash down image.
Yes, they are fast!
In between stronger gusts of wind the tern hovered higher over the water as he looked for food.
There is not much contrast in these images of a pair of Bonaparte’s Gulls feeding in the ocean surf. The day was dull and the birds coloration mostly matches the water, with only their black wing-tips and orange feet standing out.
However, they were fun to watch and gulls are great practice for in-flight bird photography due to their relatively slow speed and predictability.
It was also windy and this pair was expending a tremendous amount of energy for what was small food. Whatever they were catching they quickly swallowed without me seeing it.
They dropped in and lifted out of the water with ease and flew in tandem as they moved up the beach.
Myrtle Beach State Park, SC, 3/17/2019
About twenty Roseate Spoonbills circled around overhead appearing undecided on where to land.
Finally they picked their spots and veered off in twos and threes.
This pair headed for the tree line, and once out of my sight dropped down into an inlet.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area is crossed with dikes and canals that run between the old rice fields.
This Great Blue Heron took off over one of the canals and disappeared across the marsh.
March 3, 2019
I watched a group of American Avocets milling around in a shallow pond, some wading and some flying in small hops following whatever they were feeding on.
American AvocetsTwo did fly by fairly close to me and I hoped they would land for a close up shot, but they kept right on going to the other side of the pond.
American Avocets in FlightAnother group landed a bit closer, then waded out of view.
American Avocets in FlightTaken 2/25/2019
With a gracefully balanced stick a Great Egret flies to the nest he is building with his mate.
Wings out, feet ready for touch down, he glides into the tree.
Unfortunately for me, the nest is on the far side of the tree, but with no leaves out yet there is a view of the welcome home squawk.
Somehow these big birds manage to maneuver to a landing and not get tangled up with their building materials.
2/28/2019
A Great Egret is headed into the tree line to gather nest material.
This Great Blue Heron opted to choose some nest building materials from the tree line where I was standing.
After a tricky landing he walked along a good sized branch while poking for loose material.
After discarding a few options he pulled an acceptable branch free and flew back to the nest.
The Great Blue Herons are busy fixing up their nests around the pond, one stick at a time.
Wingspan: 65.8-79.1 in (167-201 cm)
