Tag Archives: Great Egret

Landing On The Top

The Spoonie Tree remains an attraction for the wading birds, even the precarious looking top.

Great Egret Landing On Spoonie Tree
Great Egret Landing On Spoonie Tree

It’s a balancing act.

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Great Egret Landing On Spoonie Tree

Even a Wood Stork took a turn.

Wood Stork Landing On Spoonie Tree
Wood Stork Landing On Spoonie Tree

Meanwhile, a few other birds stuck to their spots on the lower branches.

Spoonie Tree Convention
Spoonie Tree Convention: Wood Stork, Great Egrets and a Cormorant

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023

Wood Stork Trying To Steal A Fish

Any time there is bird feeding going on there are always a few characters that would rather steal than catch their own.

Wood Stork Landing
Wood Stork Landing

This Wood Stork was one of them, and notice that the fish the Great Egret has in its beak is hardly a great prize.

Wood Stork Landing Going After Great Egret's Fish
Wood Stork Landing Going After Great Egret’s Fish

The Great Egret wasn’t giving it up…

Wood Stork Landing Going After Great Egret's Fish
Wood Stork Landing Going After Great Egret’s Fish

…decided on an exit strategy…

Wood Stork Landing Going After Great Egret's Fish
Wood Stork Landing Going After Great Egret’s Fish

… then a quick swallow and the Great Egret re-located down the pond.

Great Egret Flying Away
Great Egret Flying Away

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023

Great Egret Plucking A Fish

This was the first of a series of Great Egrets I watched catching fish in the big pond on Thursday.

Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond
Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond

The Egrets’ flexibility and flying skills are extraordinary.

Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond
Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond

And the fish were big!

Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond
Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond

Some so big that the bird had trouble lifting off.

Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond
Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond

It was only later I realized that most of the fish the Great Egrets caught were either dead or stunned from the previous nights’ cold temperatures.

Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond
Great Egret Plucking Fish From Pond

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023

Wanna Rumble? Part 3

It turned out to be more about something to do than possession of the branch for the Great Egret and he soon dropped into the water.

Great Egret
Great Egret

The Roseate Spoonbill settled in…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

… had a stretch…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

…worked one leg…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

then the other…

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 19, 2023

Wanna Rumble? Part 2

The Great Egret won this standoff, with the Roseate Spoonbill re-locating.

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret
Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret

A quick maneuver…

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret
Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret

…flaps up…

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret
Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret

And the Roseate Spoonbill settled on the other side of the tree.

Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill

While the Great Egret took the high point on the branch.

Great Egret
Great Egret

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 19, 2023

Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf

Follow up to “From The Frying Pan”

These images were taken on a dull, grey morning, not the best light for far off action photos. But it was interesting, especially the Great Blue Heron’s behavior as I thought they were done nesting. He was defending his spot as if their were eggs or small chicks there.

Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf
Great Blue Heron Defending His Turf

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023

From The Frying Pan…

These images were taken on a dull, grey morning, not the best light for far off action photos. But it was interesting, especially the Great Blue Heron’s behavior as I thought they were done nesting. He was defending his spot as if their were eggs or small chicks there.

This Great Egret tried landing at the top of this tree, but was quickly got the vibe that he should move on from the other occupants.

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Great Egret Leaping From Tree

No worries, just drop down to the next level…

Great Egret Leaping From Tree
Great Egret Leaping From Tree

Here’s a spot…

Great Egret Breaks On
Great Egret Breaks On

He wasn’t welcome here, either, as the Great Blue Heron was facing off with a pair of Great Egrets to the right.

Great Egret Into Kerfuffle
Great Egret Into Kerfuffle

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023

Ballet Over Water, And a Tango

This series was taken just after the sun came up a few weeks ago.

Great Egret Hovering Over Pond
Great Egret Hovering Over Pond

There were long shadows on the pond and the light was changing rapidly.

Great Egret Hovering Over Pond
Great Egret Hovering Over Pond, Anhinga Perched on Alligator Ramp

Two to Tango:  A brief territorial spat…

Great Egret Pair Hovering Over Pond
Great Egret Pair Hovering Over Pond

While one Great Egret circled around…

Great Egret Hovering Over Pond
Great Egret Hovering Over Pond

…the other opted to fly off.

Great Egret Hovering Over Pond and Alligator
Great Egret Flying Off and Alligator Swimming By

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 23, 2023