Something, or someone, startled this flock of American White Pelicans at the edge of the pond. They lifted off but didn’t go far, landing on a mud flat in the middle.
In less than five minutes they had all settled down and were mostly facing the same way. A larger number of Snowy Egrets, White Ibis and a few Wood Storks in the group behind them didn’t react to the alert or the Pelicans landing.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
February 10, 2020
The wading birds take to the trees when the tide is high.
Occasionally they pick dead trees with no cover, nice for the photographer.
Sometimes their perch choices look uncomfortable.
This tidal pond was fairly still, with a group of Snowy and Great Egrets having a feeding frenzy in the left corner as the water ebbed.
This pair of Snowy Egrets flew in to see what was happening, creating some interesting reflections. A few ripples in the water made doubles of part of the closer bird in this next image.
In this one I like how the closer bird is connected to the further bird’s reflection.
The ripple had a different effect here, making an S curve out of the closer leg reflection.
As the pair came closer to shore and started their landings some bushes ended by view.
Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 1, 2020
It’s a wrap. Thanks for following along and all of your comments throughout 2019. Best wishes for a peaceful and safe 2020.
Snow Egrets are pretty entertaining as the hunt for food, no standing around staring at the water waiting for prey like some of the other wading birds.
Back and forth, stirring up the water as needed, they put a lot of effort into obtaining lunch. This fellow wasn’t having much luck.
Egrets take turns watching the water stream by in this small outflow from one of the ponds at Magnolia Plantation into the Ashley River. It was near high tide when I took this image of a Snowy Egret holding court with the river lapping at the top of the retaining wall.
A Snowy Egret was striking a pose on a pylon overlooking a full creek. This was about the only wading bird activity I saw on this trip.
The water was very high on both sides of the dike leaving the “Spoony Tree” standing in water. The pond level was too high for wading birds to feed.
For comparison here is the tree a couple months earlier when there were some Spoonbills around and a few Alligators lounged in the shallow water. The dirt around the roots has washed away and the tree appears dead. It won’t be a surprise to find out this tree has fallen over.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
First two images: 6/18/2019
Third image: 4/18/2019
I was hoping that these two would strike poses with either their heads facing the same direction or looking at each other. It was not happening, one or the other would start preening or turned away.
The Great Blue had a pretty wide stance on the log.
In my last post, Snowy Egret, Blue Water, I mentioned that the Snowy Egrets can be feisty. This action took place in the “Spoonie Tree,” so named because the Roseate Spoonbills tend to gather there as a second Snowy Egret came in for a landing.
Even though their perches were several feet apart, the incoming Snowy Egret was considered an interloper.
He who was there first drove the second egret off.
After the action was over the Roseate Spoonbill had a quick squawk, but otherwise didn’t move.
A Snowy Egret was strutting his stuff across a shallow section of a pond, surrounded by beautiful blue water.
On his own this Snowy was methodically plodding along showing off his clown feet, watching the water for the movement of fish.
Their head feathers often make a statement that is in keeping with the Snowy Egret’s feisty nature.
