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.
2018 has been a wonderful year of observing and photographing the wonders of nature, mostly birds in the low country of South Carolina. Thank you for following along. I appreciate all of your comments and observations.
I end the year with a Snowy Egret fishing in a rice field canal, taken on one of the few sunny days we’ve had lately.
A White Ibis dropped in amazing close to the Egret considering all the unoccupied space nearby.
Nonplussed, they both moved on.
Best wishes for a peaceful and healthy 2019!
Click on any photo for larger view.
This is the first time I’ve seen more than one or two wading birds in these two trees that are at the edge of a tidal marsh. Snowy Egrets were coming and going in the first tree, with one lone White Ibis on the left. The sky wasn’t a great backdrop on this morning but I couldn’t pass up photographing this activity.
White Ibis dominated the second tree and while I’m not that happy to have fall arrive, the leafless trees did allow a good look at the birds.
Well, almost everyone.
As I was maneuvering to a spot where I could view the wading bird feeding frenzy I spotted this small group of egrets off to the side. They seemed focused on something to my right; the big group was further back and to my left. The weren’t interested in joining in with the others. Perhaps they’d had their fill.
When the larger groups from the huge flock took off it was pretty noisy, mostly from the wing beats. During one of those lift offs this group decided it was time to move on.
It seemed inevitable that they would fly.
I’m not sure who gave the signal, but the whole group got it.
Click on either image for larger view.
White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Snowy Egret
A Snowy Egret worked the bank of a small pond. I did not see him catch anything but he kept at it longer than I expected. Usually the Snowies are the least patient of the egrets, quick to move on when things don’t go their way.
