No little Chippies here. Massive trees are common in the Lowcountry. The super sized birds fit in like they’re Sparrows.
Big Trees Mean Big Birds
Category Archives: Shore Bird
Marsh Residents
The other day we were out and about in the ACE Basin marshes. I’ve made several comments since how it’s the summer doldrums, things were slow, general mumbling of how we didn’t see much wildlife.
And yet, there were these three almost posing for us. There’s always something to see and photograph.
Below is a Great Egret that was perched high up in the big pines. It’s not the first place you look for a big wading bird.
This tall bare tree is out in a salt marsh. The only thing to land on out there. This Snowy Egret stood there showing off his golden slippers.
Last is a female Anhinga drying off, with her head just laying down her back. An odd position, but she was comfortable, my e even asleep.
I guess it wasn’t that slow after all.
Boat-tailed Grackle
They are bigger than the Common Grackle by around 2 inches. Their range is limited to the East Coast of the US, mostly down south.
They also prefer salt water marshes, swamps, and they absolutely love outdoor restaurants. These birds will steal right off your plate, while you are eating. While you are chasing one another is busy stealing something.
Females are a much lighter brown, if you are familiar with Grackles you would not think the females are the same species.
Noon, Dark Swamp, White Ibis
I’m thinking noonish, heavy tree canopy, and glare.
The Ibis was looking at me like ‘what are you doing here?’
I had no answer. It was hot, humid, and in a few minutes I was heading out to an air conditioned car!
Landing In The Ibis, Great Egret
This Great Egret dropped down in the middle of some nesting White Ibis. While that’s usually not a good idea, and a few Ibis did take exception, there is little room here. This is a dense rookery with most groups of birds mingling with various species. There are thousands of birds in the Port Royal rookeries.
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Landing In The Ibis
Landing In The Ibis
Landing In The Ibis
Landing In The Ibis
Public Bath
The whole neighborhood was there.
- Great Egret
- White Ibid
- Snowy Egret
- Wood Stork
Best viewed large.
Mallard
About the most common duck there is, just not around here.
From what I can tell they don’t have the instincts to live in a swamp. Like zero skills! That’s an observation, no scientific facts to back it up.
I just want to drive him over to a park or backyard pond somewhere.
White Ibis Flock
In the pond, behind the tall grass.
This was just a small group. For some reason they have taken over the Storks roost and getting close to the Night Herons. There were more Ibis then last year for sure.
