Category Archives: Egret

Cattle Egret, Natural Wanderers

Before writing this I thought to do a little research on the Cattle Egret. This is one of the few Egret/Heron I don’t see all that often. They prefer dry open fields for feeding, something the Lowcountry isn’t known for.

It turns out these are an amazing and resourceful bird. Originally an Asian tropical resident they have expanded their range to almost everywhere, naturally without human intervention. They even flew across the Atlantic Ocean to get a hold on North America. They are now the most numerous heron in the world.

Cattle Egret, Natural Wanderers
Cattle Egret, Natural Wanderers
Cattle Egret, Natural Wanderers
Cattle Egret, Natural Wanderers

Who knew 😳

From Our First Winter…A Swamp

I found this photograph from February 2017, our first full winter in the Lowcountry. I try to never publish anything twice (I fill a 2 terabyte drive each year) however I have always loved this early evening shot near my new home.

Evening In A Swamp - Click To Enlarge

The previous winter we had spent two months shooting and exploring while we considered, then planned, how to sell everything and pick up and move to a place with swamps and alligators. I’m pretty sure some of our New England family/friends considered an intervention 😂.

Crowded Neighborhood, Egret And Heron

When the Great Blue first moved in here, and built the nest, there was plenty of open space to raise the kids. Just two months later those loud fighting Egrets moved in. Things were never the same.

Below the Great Blue makes threatening motions to keep an Egret away from the young. On the other side Great Egrets have already completed their own nest. Rookeries get crowded but they all manage to make it work (usually).

Crowded Neighborhood, Egret And Heron
Crowded Neighborhood, Egret And Heron

Great Egret pairs seem to tolerate each other, in between the fighting.

Crowded Neighborhood, Egret And Heron
Crowded Neighborhood, Egret And Heron