This is a bird who needs to do his best being invisible. The common Gallinule is the ‘chicken’ of the swamp.
Personally I think he could have found a much better spot to rest.
Trying To Blend In, Gallinule
Category Archives: Charleston
Tricolored Leisurely Stroll
I love it when they slowly wander around.
Makes getting a decent shot so much easier.
Eastern Phoebe
One of the easier small birds to photograph, the Phoebe. Which is precisely why I took these.
Having no patience for these little ones I watch them for a few moments. They usually make a point of returning to the same spot after making a move to drink/feed.
If their special spot has an open shot, I wait. If not I may watch a bit, but no holding up the heavy gear on the hope I will get lucky.
Great Blue Heron Down Low
A Heron on a mission and at a steady pace (that helps).
Cypress trees and last years nests are here. To a Great Blue there is no need to build when you can renovate. Like getting a ‘fixer upper’ house.
The experienced males have claimed the best spots, new birds will poke around and look for what they can find now.
It’s best the new comers keep away from the other established nests. That is when things get ugly.
Great Blue Nesting Starts
When the Herons and Egrets start gathering for nest building it’s time for plenty of in-flight photo ops.
The birds can be so busy they forget about us being there, or just don’t care.
If they have been to this rookery in past years they are familiar with the clicking camera and completely ignore it.
A Head
That’s all I could see.
This section of swamp was heavy with a years worth of Duck Weed. An 8 foot Alligator disappears in it.
Serious Disagreement, Egrets
Most confrontations between the larger birds is all posture and noise. Not this one. Even though one moved away the other bird continued the fight.
No harm done, just a few feathers and hurt feelings.
Little Blue, Thought He Saw Something
Suddenly he froze, quickly turned his head, and stared. Something caught his attention.
A slow step, and another wait, a long one.
A false alarm, yet he kept focus for a few minutes more.
Can’t be too careful, it may be the only thing to eat for the day.
