The “skinny tree” is hosting a Great Blue Heron nest again this year.
Two chicks are sharing the space which seems very small compared to some other years.
That doesn’t stop them from exploring their new world, chewing on each other when not pestering mom to get fed.
She was ignoring them while I was watching, and soon after this the little ones settled back down out of my sight.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 26, 2024
Actually two chicks, you can just make out the fuzz of the second one in front of the one that is standing.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 17, 2024
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
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
Audubon Swamp Rookery
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 6, 2024
Every stick counts. As long as the female doesn’t toss it.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 4, 2024
You could also file this under “timing is everything.” A couple minutes sooner I might have seen different action. A couple minutes later and I wouldn’t have known any of this.
I walked past the skinny tree and took this first picture of the GBH standing on the nest. The lighting wasn’t great, but if you peek through the lower branches you can make out a second heron standing on a lower level. It was almost closing time so I moved along.
Not two minutes later a loud ruckus was happening. I turned back to see that the mate had returned to the nest and took issue with the GBH below.
A lot of posturing and wing flapping went on.
Eventually the lower GBH flew off, leaving the pair to have a moment, territory crisis averted.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 26, 2024
On Thursday I took only my Canon 100mm Macro lens to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, planning on shooting flowers, not birds. That didn’t stop me from passing through the Ravenswood Pond Great Blue Heron rookery to see what was happening. And I got some scenic images of the nests.
The “close tree” is occupied by one nesting pair in the top spot.
Out on the island there are at least four active GBH nests, with these three the most visible. The tree that hosted the nest with the best angles for viewing fell over sometime last fall.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 25, 2024
After the Great Blue in Tuesday’s post called for attention, he got some action.
But apparantly not what he was hoping for.
They made some noise!
After a rousing display they each backed off a bit and eventually the interloper flew off.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 24, 2023
Beak snapping, either with or without a stick involved is another element of the Great Blue Herons’ nesting process.
In these first two images the Heron was snapping his beak and pulling on a small branch.
A few minutes later, from a better lighting angle… this was just beak snapping.
After the snapping, a bit of grooming with a full neck twist!
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 24, 2023
