A Heron emerging from the reeds where all the best sticks are. It’s easy for them too.
If we see the bird walking back to the water chances are they found a good stick. With luck I don’t hold the heavy lens up waiting too long for the take off.
The perfect result is to follow his flight up to a rookery tree. However, since we are standing under rookery Cypress also somewhere during the flight we get a lens full of hanging Spanish Moss. Happens all the time.
There were (mostly) white birds filling the trees at the far end of a dike. Not close but even with a bad knee certainly walkable.
At some point it would become obvious to the birds I was heading towards them. But there was so many of them some would remain.
I didn’t plan on many being down below in the marsh. Slight miscalculation on my part. They all left at the same time.
And of course every single bird in the trees followed them. Every one of them. Did I mention I was about 80% of the way down the dike.
At least they were kind enough to circle over head.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
While each Great Egret has their own own dramatic style there are some basic steps to every mating dance. Each season I try to catch a few birds going through their routine.
#1 Puff up to get attention.
# 2 The bow to the audience.
# 3 The long stretch, show how big you are.
# 4 Again bow to the on lookers.
# 6 Now it’s a curtsey showing respect.
# 7 Finally stand back, puff a bit and see what happens.
Now, in all fairness this Egret showed little finesse and drama. He did the dance, and probably left by himself.
Maybe next time he will put a bit more effort into it. The competition is fierce.
Multiple types of the old military head stones.
It’s as if the Butter Butts have taken over the small bird world.
Unfortunately I could not get any closer. The water and all.
An interesting find.
Two quick shots when an Egret surprised me.
There are a few blind spots on this dike, so of course this happens all the time. The fly by, not the photographs.
Most shots are missed. They are too close, and too fast.
Donnelley, South Carolina.
Cool weather is behind us. Now more of the locals are sharing space with us.
This guy is all clean and shiny. He probably just crawled out of the water.
