Willits are one of the shorebirds that poke around at the edge of the shore or at the edges of small ponds and inlets along the ocean. They look pretty drab until they take flight.
The distinguished white and black stripes that show on their wings set them apart from the Dowitchers and Yellowlegs.
This one came to shore where I was waiting for Dolphins and headed for a pool left on the beach by the falling tide.
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A number of Tricolored Herons were hanging out around the dike surrounding the old rice fields this afternoon.
The one below is probably older.
The small herons are territorial and this one was making his presence known to an approaching Snowy Egret. The reeds on my side of the water kept me from photographing the egret.
The egret kept on coming and pretty soon they both took off, squawking and flapping. They settled down in a new spot out in the reeds.
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Black Skimmers by the hundreds flew down the beach and landed on a sand bar exposed by the low tide.
There were so many birds it was hard to chose where to photograph.
As the tide covered their original landing place they lifted off in groups and circled around to another appealing spot.
We had the good fortune to watch this for over an hour until we were driven out by the incoming tide.
I was idly watching some mallards swim across the big pond at Magnolia Cemetery when I heard the splash. By the time I had him sighted he was out of the water.
Osprey often go completely under when they dive. I’m not sure this pond is deep enough for that but he still had to work very hard to get airborne with his catch.
Finally up in the air, the Osprey hung on to the fish with both feet.
A branch hanging over the water provided a perfect lunch spot with a view.
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It had been pretty quiet on the marsh ponds: we arrived just before sunrise and hadn’t seen much activity even an hour later. The Swallows started to come in small groups, flying over our heads from the tidal side of the trail into the grass on the far side of this pond.
As if on a signal they started stirring up the water, flapping and swooping. It was too far to tell if they were bathing or trying to catch insects, or maybe both.
This went on for at least a half hour with more birds joining in and others leaving.
I didn’t see where they went, but when it was over the pond became still again, with a couple of Great Egrets dropping in to check the far shore.
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A Great Blue Heron looped around me twice, going in and out of the early morning sun across a variety of marsh backgrounds. He started to touch down then decided that wasn’t the spot.
He was on a leisurely flight, surveying the area and looking for a spot to have to himself.
Elegant in flight the heron glided across the trail I was on with little effort, finally banking sharply and landing out of sight in the next pond.
I’ve tried to stop taking bird in flight shots unless they are really close as I just end up disappointed and deleting them.
However, when this flock was coming, I took the shot. Lots of them actually.
We had seen a large number of these Pelicans as the sun was coming up. This was about an hour later and hundreds more passed over us in a few waves over several minutes.
In the next photo you can pick out a couple of Cormorants in the mix. I’m not sure if they were flying with the Pelicans or if the Pelicans passed them.
We were hoping the flock might land in a nearby pond, but they kept on moving at a pretty brisk pace.
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A flock of American Avocets flew above us at the edge of a marsh. Their long upturned bill provides an easy identification.
They seemed undecided about choosing a landing spot or just moving on.
They started to drop down into an open area in the marsh…
…then changed their minds.
One more turn around and then they headed out of sight.
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The marsh grasses are changing color as fall progresses. All the vegetation around the ponds is settling and we see less green each time we visit.
Photo taken 10/13/2017.
The first Great Egret came down the canal at the edge of the old rice field and the second one joined in as he passed by.
The first Egret gave a squawk and on they went together, continuing along the edge of the pond.
They lifted a little over a group of Wood Storks then settled out of sight over the next causeway.
