When I noticed this Great Egret I almost just stopped to watch. That old ‘can’t take your eyes off a train wreck’ thing was happening.

The bird was looking for a nesting stick at the edge of this swamp island. Experience tells me every big Alligator in the area was right in those bushes watching.

The Egrets know this too. They perch right above and look down.

A few days before an Anhinga did almost the same exact thing. It ended badly for him.

Above the bird did an even worse thing, jumped on shore. Good news a stick was grabbed and quickly taken away.

I had to include the the escape images below. I didn’t see him try this again. I hope it was a one time thing.