Tag Archives: Great Egret

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

Ballet Over Water: Great Egret

I only know from watching a successful try at this hovering maneuver that this Great Egret’s intention was to catch a fish.

Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water

Nothing caught his eye on this pass and he never touched the water. After about a four second hover he flew to a tree.

Great Egret Over Water
Great Egret Over Water

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 5, 2023

Great Egret With Fish

I didn’t see this Great Egret drop into the water on this trip. And it sure is tough to see how he knew the fish was there in all that duck weed.

Great Egret With Fish
Great Egret With Fish

I’d watched him make some unsuccessful passes just touching his feet to the water, but this trip was a winner!

Great Egret With Fish
Great Egret With Fish – Lift Off

Back to his starting point he went…

Great Egret With Fish
Great Egret With Fish

…a nice graceful landing onto the unoccupied ramp.

Great Egret With Fish
Great Egret With Fish

He stood there holding the fish for a minute or so before he swallowed it.

Great Egret With Fish
Great Egret With Fish

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

Wading Bird Frenzy

Earlier this fall I mentioned that the water was being drained from the big rice field pond at Magnolia in preparation for burning the invasive cattails. Conditions to start the fire didn’t come together before the approach of a late season hurricane  and with the potential for damage to the dikes from a storm management decided to let the water back in.

This past week they decided to try again. One of the staff told me they hope to burn by the end of December. In the mean time, wading birds have gathered to take advantage of easy feeding in the shallow water.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

The alligator ramp in the upper right in the next photo would normally have water up to the lower end.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

The Great Egret in the center caught a tiny fish, and a leaf.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

It was a grey day so I didn’t get much contrast with all the white birds, but it was a fun show.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

Perry Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston SC
December 4, 2022

Great Egret, Up and Away

I expected this Great Egret to fly as soon as I saw him nestled in the marsh grass, thinking I had startled him.

Great Egret in Marsh
Great Egret in Marsh

I watched, and waited, and waited. Then I looked away for a few seconds …

Great Egret Lifting Off From Marsh
Great Egret Lifting Off From Marsh

…and sure enough, lift off was happening, and away he went.

Great Egret Flying Over Marsh
Great Egret Flying Over Marsh

Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 14, 2022

Everyone Has A Spot

The Snowy Egret and the Spoonbill took a break from harassing each other while the Great Egret was doing his own thing.

The Spoonie Tree:
The Spoonie Tree: Snowy Egret Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret, Alligators at the base

A closer look at the Alligators: it was warming up and they were looking for sunny spots out of the water.

Alligators Below the Spoonie Tree
Alligators Below the Spoonie Tree

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 16, 2022

Move Along Great Egret

In another scene from dull Friday morning, a Great Blue Heron routed a Great Egret out of his spot.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, Snowy Egret in the background

A Snowy Egret watched, unmoved.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret

While the Great Blue Heron executed a perfect landing.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret

The Great Egret let out a few squawks and went on his way.

Great Egret
Great Egret, Tricolored Heron tucked into the grass

The big pond, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 4, 2022