Tag Archives: Spoonie Tree

Restless Great Blue Heron

February 16, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This was the scene under the Spoonbill Tree at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area on a recent cold and windy morning. The Roseate Spoonbills were wisely at the back of the pond, tucked under a bigger tree.

Great Blue Heron, Gallinules, and Double-crested Cormorants

A few Gallinules were popping in and out view and the Great Blue Heron seemed on the verge of doing something as he repositioned several times.

Great Blue Heron and Double-crested Cormorants

The GBH moved back into the water when a Great Egret appeared. This dead tree, which has been a great perch for a Roseate Spoonbills over the last few years, has taken another step towards its end as another good size limb has fallen off this winter.

I was expecting the Heron to drive off the other birds the way he came back around the front of the island all puffed up.

But he decided to ignore whatever was going on behind him at least for the moment, as one lone gull paddled by.

Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorants, and Ring-billed Gull

February 4, 2021

Wading Birds

Incoming, Roseate Spoonbill

November 3, 2020 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

A Roseate Spoonbill was on a steady course towards the Spoonie Tree.

Landing is a delicate matter, but little attention is paid towards occupied spots vs plenty of open space.

Roseate Spoonbill Landing in the Spoonie Tree

All good, no feathers ruffled.

Landscape

The Spoonie Tree, No Spoonies

May 3, 2020 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

A peaceful morning at the big pond.

Landscape with Spoonie Tree, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area

Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbills, Framed and Not

April 2, 2020 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This Roseate Spoonbill got pushed out of the community tree but found a nearby perch to re-group.

This one dropped lower in the tree to get his own space, framed by the branches.

Roseate Spoonbill, Framed by Gnarly Tree

I’m sure I commented last year that I would never be surprised to see this tree had succumbed to the forces of nature but here it still stands.

January 916, 2020

Wading Birds, Water Birds

A Spoonie Tree Full

March 31, 2020 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

We call it the Spoonie Tree because the Roseate Spoonbills often perch there, but it really is first come, first served and this year I’ve seen more Double-crested Cormorants than Spoonbills.

Roseate Spoonbills, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret

The Cormorants were just enjoying the sun and grooming, but the Spoonbills had a need to agitate.

Getting an image with all heads up didn’t work out that day.

The Snowy Egrets came and went, mostly ignored by the others.

January 16, 2020
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC

Wading Birds

Slow Bird Day at Donnelley

June 25, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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.

The Spoonie Tree with Anhinga and Great Egret

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