A Pied-billed Grebe just floating along.
A bird or turtle beyond the frame caused the water to ripple.
January 15,
Minimalist Grebe
Tag Archives: Water Bird
A Spoonie Tree Full
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.
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
Cormorant Take Off
A Double-crested Cormorant was standing on a post, flapping his wings, which of course got my attention.
He dropped down as if he was going to spend some time in the water but then went into take off mode.
His splashes reminded me of a skipping stone.
Finally airborne, he disappeared down the canal.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
March 9. 2020
American Avocets
I had to peek between the tall reeds around the pond to get a limited view but it was still fun to watch these American Avocets feed.
Most of what they eat is very small so they have to spend a lot of time at it, methodically working back and forth.
These two made a striking sight across the pond, just standing around in the grass stubble.
Startled American White Pelican
Something, or someone, startled this flock of American White Pelicans at the edge of the pond. They lifted off but didn’t go far, landing on a mud flat in the middle.
In less than five minutes they had all settled down and were mostly facing the same way. A larger number of Snowy Egrets, White Ibis and a few Wood Storks in the group behind them didn’t react to the alert or the Pelicans landing.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
February 10, 2020
American Avocet Group
A quartet of American Avocets worked their way back and forth in the shallow water, feeding as they went.
The early morning light was behind them creating reflections in the still water.
Avocets eat little bits of things they find probing in the mud, generally unidentifiable bits from the photographer’s vantagepoint.
White Pelican Touch Down
For such a large bird the American White Pelicans make a delicate landing.
This one was landing on an exposed sand bar in a tidal pond.
He didn’t nail the landing, but his raised wings distracted observers from any mis-steps.
Gotta love those feet!
Pied-billed Grebe and Reflection
Pied-billed Grebes are mighty cute, always looking a little “baby faced.”
On this morning at the Ding Darling Wildlife Drive the water was still and the light very nice for reflections.
Grebes seem to be in constant motion, quickly reversing direction as they search for prey in the water.
This was one of those days that there was so much bird activity I missed a lot of action, including the fly in and landing of a pair of Grebes.
Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
January 5,2020
Almost Synchronized
Four American White Pelicans decided to take a stroll along this sand bar. Actually it was more like one had decided and the others wanted to see where he was going and they fell in line.
Ready for Liftoff
Imagine the Anhinga piloting a flying ship full of Yellow-bellied Sliders….
