We went back to where the Black-crowned Night-herons are nesting at Cypress Wetlands yesterday.
This one was busy preening, standing on one leg with a toenail of the other poking out through his feathers and casting a shadow on his wing.
This pair were working on their nest with the male delivering sticks…
…which the female worked into a perfect spot.
Dozens of Yellow-crowned Night-herons were paired up and working on nests at the back rookery area at Cypress Wetlands. The vegetation is dense.
Black-crowned Night-herons were nesting around Cypress Wetlands in their preferred denser nesting spots like this Bald Cypress tree. You can see one occupied nest up close to the tree trunk, and at least four other herons perched in the tree.
This heron was unsuccessfully trying to snap that attached twig for nesting material.
Others were tucked into quiet spots in thicker trees.
The rookery at Cypress Wetlands is bursting with nesting activity. Great Egrets were mostly settled in last week, with many laying on nests and just a few displaying mating behavior.
These were the only eggs I saw, the nest was at the perfect height with the Egret stood to tend the nest.
The vegetation on the center island of the rookery was not fully leafed out, allowing good views of the action.
A pair of Great Egrets was having an affectionate greeting as one returned to the nest.
Then a third tried to land and was quickly run off.
I’m not sure if he was trying to take over or just landed in the wrong spot. Great Egrets can be very aggressive so either is possible.
With nests all around how do birds manage to fly back to the one that is theirs? A big mystery.
Number three circled around and landed in the same tree in a higher branch out of my view. These two went back to being happy.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 26, 2026
Taken with my recently repaired OM 100-400 lens — all seems good.
The male Great Blue Heron had just flown in with a stick which they placed at their feet.
They seemed indecisive about what to do next.
This nest isn’t going to build itself!
Finally he took off…
I waited at least twenty minutes hoping he’d return with more nesting material. The female did her part, keeping the spot occupied in case of interlopers.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 14, 2026
(Ted’s OM 100-400mm Lens)
This tree has been popular for GBH nest building over the years. This pair has staked a claim and I watched the male bring a stick.
The light reflecting off the leaf-less trees and Spanish Moss is harsh this time of year, and the pond was covered with bright green duckweed that reflected off the heron’s outstretched wings.
After alerting to his arrival the female watched more closely as he flew in.
From that angle he had a pretty long landing zone, and then a few hops to get to his mate.
Together they found the right spot for the stick.
Then they stood around, cozying up and him not rushing off for more nesting material. Evidently there is no urgency to get the nest ready.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 14, 2026
(Ted’s OM 100-400mm Lens)
Three Wood Stork chicks were standing around with adult supervision–sort of.
The chicks were in constant motion. The adult didn’t seem to move even a smidge.
A little bit closer view–you can see the feathers are developing in size and starting to get darker feathers along the wing edge.
The Great Egret chick in the background perked up, perhaps a parent was on its way with food.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
May 23, 2025
Tricolored Herons were in various stages of nesting around Cypress Wetlands in May.
This adult stood up to tend her eggs and then settled back down.
A few feet away another nest had three chicks, several weeks old I’d guess as they were beyond the “naked” look.
They were doing some grooming, pushing each other around–what else is their to do between feedings?
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
May 23, 2025
An interesting view of the nest structure.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
May 7, 2025
