On the opposite side of the wildlife drive from the Mangroves a different ecosystem was attracting a variety of wading birds feeding in some shallow water. On other trips I’ve seen this area completely dry. After the recent rains there was water here, although it’s not visible from this angle.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
December 29, 2023
White Ibis are kind of goofy looking as they go about their business, looking for food.
Generally the pond detritus doesn’t stick to them, probably due to oils on their feathers.
Here was a successful probe, with a frog prize.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 24, 2023
A few White Ibis were feeding at the edge of one of the small ponds at Magnolia Gardens.
Generally in constant motion while eating, this one paused for a photographic moment…
both a right and a left view.
They pulled all sorts of things out of the mud and swallowed them whole, sometimes with a snazzy flip.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 24, 2023
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
October 30, 2023
This White Ibis had been feeding at the edges of a small pond then opted to wade to the other side, passing around a Cyprus Tree.
The reflections created by new foliage were lovely.
And his slow speed made just a faint ripple in the water.
He climbed out of the water and spent a few minutes just looking around.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 21, 2023
A White Ibis swallowing a crawfish he pulled from the bottom of a small pond.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 21, 2023
This is not the first time I’ve photographed a wading bird in this tree, but from the look of the limb it may be the last.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 11, 2023
As is sometimes the case with White Ibis, I heard them before I saw them, at first thinking the mumble, mumble was a human. Then a caught a glimpse.
There were a half dozen of them poking around in this swampy area, and this one gave me an unobstructed view.
And a bit of reflection.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 5, 2023
I happened upon a Juvenile White Ibis that had just found a snack, some kind of crayfish from the look.
That was good, let’s find another.
He paced around,
poked and prodded into the muck,
and came up empty.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 18, 2023
