Just because I can, flying loops and circles before returning to the nest.
This young bird has got the flying part figured out. Now the fun part, practice.
Loops and circles, back and forth.
This doesn’t mean he has left the nest yet. Back at the nest are the siblings and free food. They have to learn to hunt on their own.
Nice photos. I like the way his wing tip has a slight upward tilt.
Their wings (and other larger wading birds) have multiple layers of feathers. The wing tips look like that when the spread the feathers, they also have a separate ‘cape’ of feathers on their shoulders that I don’t see on other types.
Green stuff on the legs – is that picked up from the water or do they get mossy legs?!!
They wade through swamps and marsh to feed. Always wet and nasty 🙂