Once the Pied-bill Grebe was on his own with the crayfish he did a slow paddle…
… with his lunch just dangling.
Then he dunked it…
…maybe rinsing it
then it was down the hatch!
Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
February 11, 2025
This Pied-bill Grebe seemed keenly aware of the two Coots when he surfaced with a large crayfish.
He kept circling away from them…
…and finally turned up the pedal power and swooshed away from them.
He bobbed back to the surface, continuing to swim while he hung on tight to his lunch.
Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
February 11, 2025
The light made this pond appear a shade of blue that matched the Little Blue Heron that was patiently hunting.
Little Blues make very precise water strikes when they fish, making a delicate splash.
And a water ripples.
No luck that time, back to patiently watching.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
February 10, 2025
This fellow had a more muted color palette than other Reddish Egrets I’ve seen.
He did, however, have the Reddish Egret moves, dashing back and forth.
Wait for it, wings up to change the lighting…
splash, and
success!
Onward -you’ve got to do a lot of fishing when your catch is that small.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island, FL
February 10, 2025
I took a slew of photos of these White Ibis feeding last Friday. They kept going back and forth through sun lit patches, in and out of the vegetation, and were very entertaining.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 17, 2025
The late afternoon sun lit up this swampy area as a flock of White Ibis passed through, feeding as they went.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 17, 2025
I have often seen a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drill holes in a tree to release sap, or at least heard one doing it. They tend to be methodical, going round and round a tree limb. This was the first time I had watched one revisiting his drilled holes to feast on the flowing sap. A small joy of being in winter with no leaves on the trees to block such a view.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 12, 2024
I did not see the Little Blue Heron snag this frog but when he moved out into the water to rinse his catch off I was in the right spot.
First a dunk and a swirl…
…flip the frog over…
…a few squeezes to rearrange…
…and down it went.
…with one gulp.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 8, 2024
Roseate Spoonbills were feeding in the shallow water in the big pond at Donnelley WMA at the end of July.
Spoonbills use a lot of energy to feed as they are constantly in motion sifting the water for prey.
Groups often stick together, following the food the others stir up.
Sometimes they venture away from the group, allowing for a lovely portrait.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 28, 2024
A small flock of Wood Storks was feeding in the shallow water in the big pond at Donnelley WMA.
Another Stork dropped in…
…made a somewhat graceful landing…
…one more step…
…then immediately started to feed.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 28, 2024
