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
Three, Two, One, Go!
Tag Archives: Snowy Egret
Wrinkled Reflection
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.
Solitary Snowy Egret
Snowy Egrets are entertaining to watch as they dart about, working to stir up small fish in the water. This one separated himself from the flock of nearby Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks and took a short break. We are used to seeing Great Egrets waiting this way, but generally the Snowy Egrets don’t have the same perseverance.
A quick turn and a pounce into the water yielded nothing, this time.
Taken 7/26/2018.
Lining the Banks
Wading birds and alligators gathered along this marsh inlet as the tide was going out.
The Snowy Egrets changed position frequently, they seem happiest when flapping around. The other egrets and herons tended to stick to their claimed spot, even as the alligators passed by.
Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis shared the banks.
Snowy Egret Strutting His Stuff
The Wood Storks were just standing around after having fed at sunrise, while the Snowy Egret was making a fuss. Snowy Egrets are known for their active foraging and strutting as they stir up food in shallow ponds or inlets.
Snowy Egrets Synchronized Flying
And the chase was on. It was hard to tell who was who. These two Snowy Egrets were trying to impress a prospective mate.
The flying skill was quite impressive.
Their feet and bills have turned from yellow to orange for mating season.
Where this duo finally landed was a bit far for a good shot, but there was no mistaking the mating dance.
The Great Egret sitting on her nest was unperturbed by all this activity and a third Snowy Egret tucked himself out of the way.
Bathing Hole
When I first arrived at the end of the boardwalk at St. Augustine Alligator Farm a Great Egret had this little corner to himself. He was just sitting there, not actively bathing, but dunking a little. No Alligators were in the immediate vicinity, that I could see.
Even though he wasn’t doing anything to attract attention he soon had company, as first a Roseate Spoonbill sauntered over, a Snowy Egret dropped in, and then a White Ibis joined the group. The White Ibis, with a splash of mud on his wings, was most in need of a rinse.
The dirt look to the Spoonbill’s feathers is the transition to the darker pink/red that happens as they mature.
1/29/2018, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, Florida.
Snowy Egret Out on a Limb
A Snowy Egret found a spot to himself for the night, about forty-five minutes before sunset. The wading birds tend to be squabblers, but when darkness is approaching they pick a spot and settle down.
1/29/2018, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, Florida.
Snowy Egret
Snowy Egrets are easily identified if you can see their feet: bright yellow and rather clownish looking.
They also have trouble with their hair-dos, another factor that adds to their comical persona. They dance around when they feed to stir up fish settled to the bottom of creeks or ponds, often tossing their heads causing those extra long feathers to bounce.
This one was just standing around at the edge of the wildlife drive, showing off his feet.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, 1/28/2018.
Snowy Egret
This Snowy Egret is likely a regular around this small pond. He was content for me to walk by as he surveyed they area from this cement embankment near the road.
Then I took one step too close and he lifted up onto a dead branch and proceeded to twist around for some personal grooming.
The branch hung out over the pond and I was able to move around the corner and get a couple different backgrounds as he posed one legged.
I wanted to get the nice green palm fronds or the flowering Crepe Myrtle that edged the pond but as it turns out I would have had to have my feet with the alligators to get those shots.
Click on any photo for larger view.