Tag Archives: Snowy Egret

Wading Bird Frenzy

Earlier this fall I mentioned that the water was being drained from the big rice field pond at Magnolia in preparation for burning the invasive cattails. Conditions to start the fire didn’t come together before the approach of a late season hurricane  and with the potential for damage to the dikes from a storm management decided to let the water back in.

This past week they decided to try again. One of the staff told me they hope to burn by the end of December. In the mean time, wading birds have gathered to take advantage of easy feeding in the shallow water.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

The alligator ramp in the upper right in the next photo would normally have water up to the lower end.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

The Great Egret in the center caught a tiny fish, and a leaf.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

It was a grey day so I didn’t get much contrast with all the white birds, but it was a fun show.

Wading Bird Frenzy
Wading Bird Frenzy

Perry Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston SC
December 4, 2022

Snowy Egret Keeping His Feet Dry

Dry feet aren’t really a concern for wading birds, but this Snowy Egret was keen on balancing above the water rather than dropping in.

Snowy Egret Balancing
Snowy Egret Balancing

Check out his left foot…

Snowy Egret Balancing
Snowy Egret Balancing

… now grasping like a claw…

Snowy Egret Balancing
Snowy Egret Balancing

…while his right leg looks really awkward.

Snowy Egret Balancing
Snowy Egret Balancing

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 12, 2022

Alligators Everywhere

The Alligators took advantage of the exposed mud as water drained out of the the big rice field pond.

And they found their way into a number of my wading bird images.

Wading Birds and Alligators
Wading Birds and Alligators
Wading Birds and Alligators
Wading Birds and Alligators
Snowy Egret Flying By Alligator
Snowy Egret Flying By Alligator

A wider view of the interior of the pond–all of those reeds are due to be burned off as soon as wind conditions are right.

Wading Birds and Alligator
Wading Birds and Alligator, The Alligator’s crawl path zigzagging across the mud

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022

Snowy Egret and Grebes Feeding Together, 2

The Pied-billed Grebes and Snowy Egret kept moving along the edge of the pond, giving me better light on the water.

Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes, Bump in the water behind the Snowy is a Grebe

They continued back and forth for several minutes.

Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes

The Snowy Egret displayed a classic stalking move…

Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes

…then appeared to goose one of the Grebes.

Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022

Snowy Egret and Grebes Feeding Together

A small flock of Pied-billed Grebes, which feed underwater on small fish and invertebrates, were following a strutting Snowy Egret.

Snowy Egret Strutting Between Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Strutting Between Pied-billed Grebes

The water was pretty shallow but it didn’t stop the Grebes from diving in the Snowy Egret’s wake.

Snowy Egret Strutting Between Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Strutting Between Pied-billed Grebes

The Snowy Egret was quick to take advantage of the prey the Grebes were stirring up.

Snowy Egret Feeding Between Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Feeding Between Pied-billed Grebes

As usual, the Snowy did like to be the leader of the pack.

Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes
Snowy Egret Feeding With Pied-billed Grebes

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022

Everyone Has A Spot

The Snowy Egret and the Spoonbill took a break from harassing each other while the Great Egret was doing his own thing.

The Spoonie Tree:
The Spoonie Tree: Snowy Egret Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret, Alligators at the base

A closer look at the Alligators: it was warming up and they were looking for sunny spots out of the water.

Alligators Below the Spoonie Tree
Alligators Below the Spoonie Tree

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 16, 2022

Move Along Great Egret

In another scene from dull Friday morning, a Great Blue Heron routed a Great Egret out of his spot.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, Snowy Egret in the background

A Snowy Egret watched, unmoved.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret

While the Great Blue Heron executed a perfect landing.

Great Blue Heron and Great Egret
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret

The Great Egret let out a few squawks and went on his way.

Great Egret
Great Egret, Tricolored Heron tucked into the grass

The big pond, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 4, 2022