Tag Archives: Nesting

Roseate Spoonbill Set-to

February 20, 2025 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

SET-TO a usually brief and vigorous fight or debate, per our friends at Merriam Webster

This was brief, and most definitely vigorous, and I’d say no clear winner but it was interesting to watch.

One Spoonbill and its mate were working on a nesting spot in the upper left of this palm tree. Presumably the female of that pair stayed out of this, off stage to the left.

The other Spoonbill was on his own, trying to get a nest started on the right side of the tree. Plenty of room for everyone, until there wasn’t.

The noises they were making caught my attention as I was going down the boardwalk.

No wonder they were squawking!

I wouldn’t have been surprised to see blood flying.

This went on for over 3 minutes, and at this point I couldn’t tell which bird was which.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
February 12, 2025

Wading Birds

GBH: Greeting At The Skinny Tree

January 23, 2025 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I don’t know how they know, but this bird sure was aware something was about to happen.

Great Blue Heron -- What? — Great Blue Heron — What?

Oh, my mate, you are back!

Double checking to make sure I know you…

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 17, 2025 — before the snow and big freeze

Wading Birds

Great Blue Heron Getting Nest Material

January 21, 2025 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

While I was watching the White Ibis feed a Great Blue Heron flew from his nest in the big island to grab some building material. He was wading around in the swampy area to the left, selecting and discarding a number of choices. Finally he emerged with this teeny stick.

Great Blue Heron Getting Nest Material, Road along Ravenswood Pond is being renovated

Ravenswood Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 17, 2025

Wading Birds

Great Blue Heron Showing Off

January 6, 2025 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

… just a little.

This Great Blue Heron appeared to be trying to attract a mate, but he wasn’t really giving his all. He gave that one short call and that was it. He’s got some serious work to do gathering sticks if he wants a female to give him more than a passing glance. The males start the nests around the rookery, with the females providing improvement instructions when she chooses a mate.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 17, 2024

Wading Birds

Great Blue Heron, Nest Started, Now What

December 28, 2024 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

A Great Blue Heron has staked a claim for a prime nest site in the Skinny Tree.

A few nest materials have been added, and now there is nothing to do but hold the territory.

Usually the males start the nests before the females return to the rookery area for the season. This could be a male that is in hopes of luring a female to his creation.

Or this could be the next step, the female guarding the nest spot while the male is off doing his thing. Either way there is a lot of waiting involved in getting a new family started.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 17, 2024

Wading Birds

Wood Stork Chicks in Nest

July 1, 2024 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

The adult Wood Storks appeared to be passing nest duty, after first inspecting their pair of chicks.

Not yet walking, the chicks were scrambling around probably hoping to get fed.

One adult flew off, which gave the other a bit more room to maneuver…

…check on junior’s grooming…

…and then get a little space away from the chicks.

Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 12, 2024

Wading Birds

Wood Stork Bringing Nest Material

June 15, 2024 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Watching a Wood Stork gather nest materials is a treat, especially when they fly right over you! I couldn’t see into the vegetation where these sticks were being delivered so don’t know if these are for repairs or new nests.

Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 12, 2024

Wading Birds

Yellow-crowned Night-herons at Rookery

June 8, 2024 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The Yellow-crowned Night-herons nest in a separate area of the rookery than the other nesting birds I’ve recently featured. Their nests are higher off the ground in a wooded area at the far end of the big pond. This year the nests are all facing away from the boardwalk that passes below them.

Nesting Yellow-crowned Night-herons — Adult Yellow-crowned Night-heron with two chicks

Above was the best capture I got of any chicks. The second adult then arrived at the nest.

The pair had some communication and interestingly the chicks didn’t seem to notice.

With other wading birds I have observed the return of one of the adults means feeding time and the chicks aren’t shy about getting a share.

Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
May 30, 2024

Wading Birds

Little Blue Heron Coming Through

April 22, 2024 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

A few Little Blue Herons were gathering sticks for nest material on the less human-traveled side of the pond that houses the Cypress Wetlands rookery.

It wasn’t the best light from this angle, but interesting to watch them cycle back and forth to their nests.

This one bush attracted the herons as a landing zone.

Then they dropped into the undergrowth, out of my sight, to pick through loose twigs.

Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
April 5, 2024

Wading Birds

Wood Storks Gathering Nesting Material

April 6, 2024 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

There are at least a dozen pairs of Wood Storks actively building nests this week at Cypress Wetlands. Last year there were only two or three pairs–word about the good neighborhood has spread.

Some material contributions are tiny…

and some much more substantial.

Unlike some other wading birds that use mostly dead twigs, the Wood Storks seem to prefer picking live branches with some greenery.

Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
March 29, 2024