Kraft Azalea Egrets and Palm's Hawks

I totally missed the breeding season at Kraft Azalea Park last year. Nearly missed it again this year but, fortunately, Mead Garden was overrun by British cars for a show. It was too nice a day to just head back home. As usual, once you turn the corner to the park the noise is unavoidable. Great Egrets have nests everywhere and the chicks are very hungry.



In another tree, an adult in breeding plumage rests before the next feeding round.



The Great Egret in most nests are getting very large and they seem to dictate the feeding once the parents return by grabbing onto them almost immediately.



For some reason I find this stressed out look on this parent a bit humorous.



On and on at all the nests.



On the way home I stopped by Palm Cemetery which I used to go by all the time when I was in Tech school. Not a lot of birds but I did find a Blue-headed Vireo way up above.



Calling and circling the gold course, Red-tailed Hawks were rising up on the thermals.



Besides adult Red-tailed Hawks there was another bird I had to ask about since it looked like a Short-tailed Hawk but had a belly band like a Red-tailed. Friends confirmed it is a molting juvenile Red-tailed.



A nice end to a beautiful drive.