I do occasionally see Great Blue Herons Walk but their preferred mode of transportation is flying. This GBH was elegantly covering the distance across a pond with just a few wing strokes.
Flying is Faster
Tag Archives: Wading Birds
Wood Storks in a Dead Tree
There were hundreds of Wood Storks in the trees at the back of the field and in the rice field canals, most of them tucked down or just too far away for good images. This dead tree served as a perch for a small group of storks and couple stray White Ibis as they rotated in and out of the distant trees.
One or two would land and almost immediately on or two would ext the tree. This was another one of those natural happenings that seemed to have a secret signal.
There was another canal between me and this tree but that water didn’t seem appealing to any of the wading birds on this afternoon.
The fluffy white clouds were building up pretty quickly and provided a more interesting background than plain blue sky.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, 10/20/2018
Three, Two, One, Go!
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
Roseate Spoonbill
After a short break following his Balance Beam Routine this Roseate Spoonbill inspected the sides of his support.
I discovered when I processed these images that he was not alone. A Paper Wasp nest is tucked in the corner, a Great Blue Heron is peaking up from the marsh, and another GBH is lurking in the background.
Black-crowned Night Heron in Flight
Sometimes you are in just the right spot.
This Black-crowned Night Heron flew over the marsh and then right in front of where Ted and I were standing. I was expecting him to veer off as he got closer as we were right out in the open, but he obliged us with a slow, steady flight.
Balance Beam Routine
After flying in and perching a few minutes on the end of this old pier support, a Roseate Spoonbill made a deliberate tour of the length of the top beam.
Carefully, one foot in front of the other like a beginner gymnast he worked his way to the left.
His feet didn’t quite conform to the shape.
There was a quick peak over the edge.
Then an awkward leg lift.
At the end, now what?
That was the end of the routine; I waited in vain for a spectacular dismount.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, 10/20/2018.
Morning Sentinal
Watching and waiting in the classic pose, this Great Egret had the perfect view over the marsh.
White and Pink
Preening is serious business for wading birds and more important than wanting personal space.
Rice Field Trunk Duo
This wooden “trunk” controls water flow to and from the old rice field pond seen here and the tidal Ashley River, just at my back as I took this image. A variety of wading birds have become accustomed to stopping by; when the water is flowing through the trunk the fishing can be pretty easy on the low side.
Twisted
A Great Blue Heron Twisted up like a pretzel while preening,
