Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Checking the Egret Rookery

Kids are growing fast. Wouldn't be surprised if some haven't already tested their wings. You can still tell the older chicks by their unkempt hair.

Great Egret

I still find it hard to believe that these large birds can build and maintain such small nests. Once the chicks get this big there is no room for Mom or Dad.

Great Egret

There are still some younger chicks around but very few. Only a couple calling constantly anymore. Most are busy preening their new feathers.

Great Egret

High overhead, Anhinga fly in and out of their treetop nests. Wonder when I will ever see any of those chicks? There are several adults drying in the sunlight.

Anhinga

Nearby, a pair of Wood Ducks rests on the cypress knees.

Wood Duck

Wood Ducks are often very skittish. This pair allowed me too get a little closer but they were still nervous.

Wood Duck

I was about to try for an even closer shot when something caught my eye to the left. An Anhinga chick! So they are leaving the nests. It just appeared out of an azalea bush and wandered straight toward the Wood Ducks. Timed that one right.

Anhinga

Farther down the bank, a newly emerged Anhinga adult climbs onto a cypress tree to start drying off.

Anhinga

Just over the water's edge, resting on a Button Bush tree, was a gorgeous Spicebush Swallowtail.

Palamedes Swallowtail

Finally, a foraging adult Great Egret still sports breeding plumage and glides slowly through the garden searching for lizards.

Great Egret

Not much time left to visit these young birds. They will be ready to move on and I will wrap up school soon and will not be so close for lunch breaks. Have to enjoy it while I can.

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