Tall reeds, grass, and Egret looking like he owns the place.

ACE Basin, South Carolina.
A trail leading out to some large marshes starts in a small wooded area. Short scrub trees really. I have seen a few Tricolors here, but apparently it’s a place to hang out.
I’m not sure how many were there, they flew in, out, and around heavier brush.
They tend to be solitary birds so an assumption is they are from the same rookery and younger birds. Juveniles are as big as adults now and feather colors much the same.
As expected there a fewer young Wood Ducks around. But these are the ones who are the survivors. Maybe smarter, and luckier than the others.
There is also a group of much younger ones in the swamp. No adult but they look to have learned where to hide early on.
I love a parade, especially one like this.
Each is exotic on their own, very unique birds.
I appreciate getting two species like this together. I’ve never photograph three like this.
Oh wait… not sure it counts but a Little Blue Heron photobombed the last shot.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
One of my favorite sights in the marshes.
We were out moving between marsh areas the other day. The first marsh had Storks off on the far side of the area. We decided to move along to a further area that is larger and more open.
It was good, we found a few flocks and walked miles… way too many miles. The temperature was at a minimum high 90’s and similar humidity.
We made one more stop, foolish for sure, but had enough water so we went.
The photo above was taken in a spot that a few hours earlier had nothing more than a few Alligator heads floating around.
Ellen’s mantra, ‘you don’t know if you don’t go out’ paid off again.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
A Roseate Spoonbill making a morning visit to a large marsh.
This time of year everything starts early. A normal temperature is in the mid 90’s, out in an open marsh it’s much hotter and very wet.
Later it gets brutal.
A small group of other Spoonbills, Wood Storks, and few Egret were starting to feed. This bird came in late. I had found a large group of Storks in another marsh earlier but drove here in hopes of finding something closer.
Getting two groups flocking, in tow separate areas is a good sign activity is starting back up. The heat bothers the marsh critters just as much as us.
Right now the grass and reeds out there are much taller than me. Getting them in flight is the only option until you get luck enough to find an open spot.
A nice morning back light was a bonus.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.