We arrived at Black Point Wildlife Drive about 45 minutes before sundown. The light was quite elegant on this feeding Reddish Egret.
The swirl in the water shows how quickly these wading birds change direction, darting back and forth.
And, how very little their prey is.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 16, 2023
Watching Reddish Egrets showing off their fishing moves never gets old for me. These images were taken a different day than my similar May 5th post, but the action was pretty much the same.
This last image isn’t that clear but what I took to be a jumping fish startling the Reddish Egret was interesting.
Black Point Wildlife Drive
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 11, 2022
There is no etiquette amongst the wading birds.
Birds just drop in on each other, no announcement necessary.
You were busy fishing, I’ll share your spot.
Maybe just hop a bit further on.
I don’t know if they actually touched, but it sure was close.
The Reddish Egret never kept to his path and the Ibis did keep moving. Once the Ibis touched down he didn’t look as big as with his wings out.
According to Cornell’s All About Birds, the Glossy Ibis at 19-26 inches(48-66 cm) in length is slightly smaller than the Reddish Egret at 28-31 inches (70-80 cm).
Black Point Wildlife Drive
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022
Watching Reddish Egrets showing off their fishing moves never gets old.
Black Point Wildlife Drive
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL
April 12, 2022
I was delighted to see a Reddish Egret on Bulls Island, even if it didn’t show off the fishing dance they are known for.
In fact, he didn’t move much at all.
April 2, 2022
A Reddish Egret was feeding in a shallow pond, pretty calmly for a Reddish Egret.
I was disappointed not to see any of the wild abandon they often display as they feed.
Calm was working for him on this morning.
He snatched several small edibles from the water, making little ripples.
Like most wading birds the Reddish Egret can spend a lot of time standing around. But when they are ready to hunt, look out!
They use their whole body: running, raising their wings, jumping in the air, and bam!
He got a little fish for dinner.
Then it starts again.
Hopefully some of his catch will be bigger, otherwise he would never be able to eat enough to support all this exercise.
Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
December 31, 2019
Wading birds usually ignore each other when they feed, each one just going about his business. This young Reddish Egret did seem to be intimidated by the Wood Storks clacking their bills. Then he decided to do a Reddish Egret maneuver and flapped his wings.
He didn’t get the full dance move, but the closest Wood Stork took notice.
And did his own two-step.
The Reddish Egret retreated…
,,, Nothing to see! The Reddish Egret went back to hunting while a Snowy Egret gave a flap for good measure.
Rarely seen in South Carolina, Reddish Egrets are known for their lively dance across the water as they feed.
Reddish Egret: The Dance has images of the dance I took in Florida in February 2018.
Bear Island WMA, 7/21/2019.
This Reddish Egret was much more reserved in his fishing maneuvers than the one I saw doing the jump moves. I didn’t see any air moves but he did perform the extended strut, wading at a fast pace for as much as a hundred feet, before turning.
I couldn’t see what was making him change his path;Â he just seemed to be on a mission to get from point A to point B.
When he did stop he raised one or both wings to shade the water looking for food.
Finally, a stab into the water…
…nothing! But I could really see his beautiful striped beak as he picked out his next prey.
Eventually he got a tiny fish, then started the strut over again.
Click on any photo for larger view.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1/28/2018
I did get to see the Reddish Egret executing some dance moves in an impoundment further along Black Point Drive from where I photographed the posing one.
It was a challenge to keep up with him as their was no discernible choreography.
