This is the first time I’ve seen more than one or two wading birds in these two trees that are at the edge of a tidal marsh. Snowy Egrets were coming and going in the first tree, with one lone White Ibis on the left. The sky wasn’t a great backdrop on this morning but I couldn’t pass up photographing this activity.
White Ibis dominated the second tree and while I’m not that happy to have fall arrive, the leafless trees did allow a good look at the birds.
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
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
White Ibis are brown when they are young, and gradually become mottled, then change to full white.
Peek-a-boo and see my bright blue eye!
This gnarly tree that hang over a pond are attractive perches for the Ibis, some taking up a position out in the open.
A group of six or eight were perched through out this tree, blending in with the yellowish leaves.
This Ibis picked up his lunch and took off after the other Ibis in his flock started closing in to see what he had.
It can be disconcerting when a flock of wading birds lands in a tree over your head. Thoughts of getting pooped on come to mind, and as much as I’d hate to be the recipient of that I’d hate it to land on my camera even more.
This flock of six or eight White Ibis didn’t seem to be concerned about the few photographers standing below and provided some nice poses.
After awhile they took off one by one, and because they were so close to the trees there was no option for in flight photographs.
These were taken in the middle of February and just a few buds were starting to show on the trees.
As the rookery tree filled up for the night the birds had to be content with less space or have discussions about personal space.
These White Ibis had it figured out and evenly spaced themselves before tucking up a leg and in their beaks.
A lone White Ibis had his spot before the sun went down but wasn’t quite ready to close his eye.
The sun shining in his open mouth gave a weird look at this White Ibis’ throat. There really isn’t much to any of the wading birds bodies.
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.
I saw a lot of Roseate Spoonbills the first three days of my Florida trip in January but at a distance, behind low scrub and/or in low light. Finally on the third afternoon we came upon a flock of mixed wading birds in a marsh that was close enough to the road for clear photographs.
The flock was working from our right to the left, both wading and taking short flying hops.
The Ibis and Spoonbills seem quite content to hang out together.
This Roseate Spoonbill trio really show off the darker pink band on their wings, a contrast with the White Ibis that has just a hint of black on his wing tips.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 1/28/2018
