Great Egret gliding by the edge of the rookery, which is lined with a variety of tree species.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
April 5, 2024
Great Egret Flying By
Tag Archives: Great Egret
Great Egret Over My Head
This Great Egret had been diligently gathering sticks for a nest.
After several ground forays and trips back to the nest he decided to try in the tree tops…
then took a break for some “me time” preening.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 26, 2024
Great Egret Mated Pair, Intertwined Necks
After their big alert this Great Egret mated pair shared a neck snuggle. And showed off some flexibility.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
March 13, 2024
Great Egret Mated Pair
This Great Egret mated pair became aware of a neighbor getting a bit close!
Head feathers up, protective stance…
Get back!
That worked…
Ok, back to just hanging out.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
March 13, 2024
Wading Bird Variety
On the opposite side of the wildlife drive from the Mangroves a different ecosystem was attracting a variety of wading birds feeding in some shallow water. On other trips I’ve seen this area completely dry. After the recent rains there was water here, although it’s not visible from this angle.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
December 29, 2023
Great Egret With Fish and a Pursuer
And the chase was on!
Trees from the far back were reflecting in the water.
He started to land then thought better of it, his pursuer was not far behind.
As the Great Egret kept moving away from the far bank the sky made a much nicer reflection.
Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, SC
December 7, 2023
Landing On The Top
The Spoonie Tree remains an attraction for the wading birds, even the precarious looking top.
It’s a balancing act.
Even a Wood Stork took a turn.
Meanwhile, a few other birds stuck to their spots on the lower branches.
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.
This Wood Stork was one of them, and notice that the fish the Great Egret has in its beak is hardly a great prize.
The Great Egret wasn’t giving it up…
…decided on an exit strategy…
… then a quick swallow and the Great Egret re-located down the pond.
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.
The Egrets’ flexibility and flying skills are extraordinary.
And the fish were big!
Some so big that the bird had trouble lifting off.
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.
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.
The Roseate Spoonbill settled in…
… had a stretch…
…worked one leg…
then the other…
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 19, 2023