The penthouse was taken early on by the Herons.
However several pairs of Great Egrets are sharing the lower levels.
Obviously the Great Blue is not happy about this.
A Crowd
Category Archives: Wildlife
Wildlife Photography
Came From Nowhere, Alligator
I was explaining to a friend how this area had once been busy.
Raising my hand to point to my right, just as I began to speak about Alligators thriving over there …
Huge splash, and a gator flying through the water.
It was almost show biz!
He was chasing something I never did see. but what a wonderful grand entrance he made.
Wading Egret
A Great Egret we found as we left a swamp for the day. It landed in the shallows just as I walked by.
This is one of the reasons leaving here, at a specific time, is impossible.
There is ‘one more thing’ to see before you go.
Getting Serious, Heron, Egret
They are starting to live closer to each other. Prime nesting spots are hard to find. The Great Blue Herons are always there first and protect the location and small young.
I caught this series as the Great Egret pushed closer and closer to the Heron. Egrets may be the biggest danger to small Heron chicks. The adult Heron, while a docile species, will attack if threatened.
The following photographs are a good example of aggressive behavior in these rookeries.
Above, the Great Egret was inching closer to the Heron nest. Finally the Heron stood and warned the Egret to move away.
Egrets are usually the aggressor and will fight back.
The Heron had been pushed by the Egrets for some time and ultimately attacked.
Above the Egret wisely backed off. The Heron had the high ground, was protecting young, and is bigger.
This time the Heron won the day.
Egrets are nesting in this tree below the Heron so this will be an ongoing battle.
I was pleased to be able to capture this series from start to finish (there were other shots, too many to include). You need to be in the right place at the right time. I was, this time.
Old Snaggled Tooth Was Near, Alligator
I have seen this large guy several times before. Teeth are missing, and growing outward.
An Alligator can regrow their teeth. A good thing considering the life they live.
This one is about 12 feet (3.6 meters) which is about right for the biggest in this marsh. Some may be a little bigger, but after a certain size who cares. They’re just really big.
Sharpening Her Bill, Heron
I have seen this behavior before. It’s even more common with the Great Egrets.
When in an attack or defensive position the birds will almost make a show out of sharpening their beaks.
It’s probably a form of intimidation.
Egrets have been moving in on this Great Blues nest and she has tiny young. It will take more than a single Egret to drive her away. Both Herons and Egrets will stand their ground.
Above you can see a small ‘tuft’ of feathers below the Heron.
Like An Old Movie, Alligators
Early every Saturday morning the local NYC stations played old safari adventure films. As a young boy this was fascinating stuff.
Fast forward…
This is still fascinating stuff.
Except it’s not WPIX channel 11.
Note; if you enlarge the images you can see more Alligators just oou of sight. I could not get them all in the view finder.
Great Blue Waiting
On the nest, Great Blue Heron.
