Tag Archives: Feeding

Wading Birds

Great Egret Chicks: Survival of the Most Aggressive

May 29, 2024 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

Great Egret chicks are extremely aggressive to each other… it is all about getting fed and survival.

They stab each other — anything to drive the siblings off and be the one to get fed.

As the adult is regurgitating the food he is getting chewed/stabbed also.

And as anyone who has witnessed this play out will attest, it is a wonder that all of them don’t lose an eye.

When all else fails turn yourself up-side down, and maybe you’ll catch or snatch something!

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
May 24, 2024

Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbill Chicks Feeding

May 19, 2024 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The three Roseate Spoonbill chicks in this nest were all vying for an opportunity to get fed.

The adults regurgitate their meals…

…and the chicks stick their beaks into the adult’s throat.

The adult didn’t seem to showing any preference, whichever chick stuck his beak in the right direction got something.

At this age the chicks don’t have much coordination so it was rather a free for all. Just guessing here and knowing they grow fast, this trio might be a week or ten days old.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
April 16, 2024

Water Birds

Laughing Gull With a Fish

May 10, 2024 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 3, 2024

Water Birds

Black Skimmer Skimming

May 5, 2024 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The gate was closed at our intended destination on Friday morning so we took a chance on a pond where we’ve only seen mosquitoes and deer flies the last few times we’ve been there.

Black Skimmers are a delight to watch with amazing aerobatic skills and we found a half dozen of them working the area.

They work hard for their meals, flying at different heights around a pond or marsh then dropping their lower beak into the water.

The fish can sense the approach, scattering as the bird closes in.

Got something!

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 3, 2024

Reptiles

Alligator Working For His Dinner, 2

April 29, 2024 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Another Alligator not far from the one in yesterday’s post was doing a similar maneuver…

…heaving out of the water.

And a more dramatic splash!

Perry Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 19, 2024

Reptiles

Alligator Working For His Dinner, 1

April 28, 2024 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I don’t know what the prey was but I repeatedly saw this Alligator heaving himself up out of the water.

Then splashing down.

Then there was chewing.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 19, 2024

Raptor

Barred Owl, Not The Dive I Expected

April 28, 2024 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

Becoming familiar with bird behaviors like take off and landing habits generally will result in better photographs.

This time the Barred Owl totally surprised me pivoting around his perch and dropping rather than making a launch to dive for prey.

Then he fully spread his wings, maybe changing routes…interesting to see the movement of his feathers.

The owl was successful, with what looks like a crayfish in his beak, not the usual method of nabbing prey with his claws.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 19, 2024

Wading Birds

Green Heron Catching a Snack

April 12, 2024 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

I call it a snack because it takes a lot of these to make a meal. Keeping fed is a full time job for these wading birds.

Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
March 29, 2024

Perching Birds

Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries, 2

April 7, 2024 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Another set of the Cedar Waxwings eating mulberries.

Port Royal, SC
March 29, 2024

Perching Birds

Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries

March 31, 2024 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

I had spotted a half dozen Cedar Waxwings in a nature area, backlit and high above me and really had no hope of getting any photos. Then I took a stroll on a residential street on the edge of the preserve and was nearly divebombed by this crew.

It was a real treat to watch a flock of about 50 Cedar Waxwings zip in and out of a mulberry tree that hung over the road.

The branches were bouncing up and down and every time a car drove by the birds scattered.

Good timing for me, there was a ten minute gap with no cars and the serious eating began.

They hung onto the berries almost like prizes and even worked together to break off bits.

Port Royal, SC
March 29, 2024