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+--- Thread: Egret in the neighborhood (/showthread.php?tid=240)
Egret in the neighborhood - Dave - 04-14-2022
My neighborhood was designed (back in the late 50s or early 60s) as a square approximately one mile on all sides. Small houses, small yards, no open grassland or open water (other than the occasional swimming pool).
So I was surprised when on a late morning walk to see a Great Egret flying very low - only a couple of feet above the ground/street/sidewalk. Then it landed and started exploring the front yards. I had never seen this behavior before in a Great Egret. The bird was about 3/4 normal adult size, so I assumed it was just a confused adolescent that hadn't learned where to find food, and what places to avoid. All thoughts of my planned trip to the store disappeared as I followed him around the neighborhood, taking many photos.
1) Here he (I'm assuming it's a male, but it's impossible to be sure) is doing a fine impersonation of a plastic lawn figurine...
Just below someone's window, still investigating among the plants...
3) What could he possibly be looking for on this driveway?
He kept going from yard to yard seeking something. Very perplexing. After about 15 minutes I resumed my trip to the store. Walking back home about 20 minutes later I saw the same bird further down the block, still searching in yards.
4) Now on my street, 4 or 5 houses down from mine. This certainly looks like their typical hunting behavior - staring intently at something and very slowly and silently moving closer. But I couldn't figure out what he was hunting.
5) Aha! Here he is with the prey - one of the many fence lizards in the area - I should have guessed that. And I saw him catch a second lizard, but missed the shot, Apparently he wasn't a confused young bird after all. Just hunting in an atypical area; perhaps forced to try this to avoid competition from older and more experienced birds in the preferred hunting areas of open grassland and particularly wetlands.
He eventually reached my yard, and I got some good close-ups. My errand to the store turned into quite a remarkable experience.
Sorry about all the extra gaps - the system keeps adding them back in as if I want everything presented in double space.
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Luv2shoot - 04-14-2022
Nice series of captures, Dave. It appears that you had a fun photo shoot.
My fave is the one where he is dining on the lizard.
Thanks for sharing.
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Rich - 04-14-2022
WoW! Pretty amazing Dave! I am glad you started your own thread with all the photos and commentary. Well done photo shoot!
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Adamphotoman - 04-14-2022
Dave, That is thinking outside the box. I meant the Egret. Last time I saw wildlife walking down the street it was 3:00 am. 20 Elk slowly sauntering by. Too dark for a foto.
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Dreamin - 04-14-2022
What a great opportunity for you, Dave! Love the shots. It reminded me of the time I sat down near a culvert on Assateague Island and a Blue Heron came to fish, and I sat there with him for over an hour while he caught minnows, flew away and came back ......I called my series interview with a Heron! Sometimes opportunity knocks, and you went with it!!
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Dave - 04-14-2022
Thank you Lorell,, Rich, Grant, and Natalie. As I've said before, I believe that 90% of getting good photos is being at the right place at the right time, with your camera ready.
Natalie, I had a similar experience as yours but with a brown pelican. I spent about 20 minutes taking photos of him at the wetlands, wandered off to another part of the preserve, and returned maybe 45 minutes later to see him in the same place. So I took a lot more photos. Eventually I got quite close to him - again, about 6 feet away.
I'm reminded of my maternal grandfather. He had incredible patience - I remember him sitting absolutely still in an Adirondack chair in his back yard, with a shelled peanut between his lips. Eventually (seemed like for an hour or more) a squirrel would hesitantly come over, climb up the chair and onto Grandpa's shoulder, grab the peanut and scamper away with the nut. Thanks for triggering that memory.
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Don - 04-14-2022
Nice series of photos Dave. Yep, totally out of their normal hunting area, but it looks like it was pretty productive.
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Man From Ironbark - 04-15-2022
With ever increasing urbanization, swamps and wetlands are being filled in to have houses and streets on top. It is no wonder that wetland birds are having to look further afield for food.
In Australia our sacred ibis are now known as bin chickens. The majestic sulphur crested cockatoos now have been filmed opening those sulo bins. I'm sure you are all familiar with seagulls at inland garbage tips.
Great series of captures, Dave. Patience does pay off.
RE: Egret in the neighborhood - Dave - 04-15-2022
Thanks Don and MFI.
MFI, I completely agree with your thoughts about how we're selfishly destroying the habitat of countless animals and plants.