American White Heron ++

I had to take my car in for to the dealer today for service. When we went back to pick it up, we saw a huge flock of American White Pelican take off from Gem Lake. Of course, I didn't have my camera along. After picking the car up, on the drive home, the flock was circling over Otter Lake Road. By the time I got my camera and headed back, that flock had disappeared, but I drove back over to Gem Lake and found a few remaining pelicans that I got lots of nice shots of. Here's a few:






Then I thought, "Maybe that big flock landed on Bald Eagle Lake" so I drove up there. There were a few pelican there, but they were further out and in among some reeds. I took a few shots of them, then heard a red wing black bird calling, so I shot it.

Then I wondered if the Trumpeter Swan had returned to the pond by Centerville Road. They hadn't but I did spot this Great Heron with the green spot near it's eye indicating mating season.

Finally, when I got home and was busy processing all these photos, my wife called to me to bring my camera. She'd spotted this Eastern Phoebe on our trellis. By the time I got ready to shoot, it had moved to our crab apple tree.

Not bad for a gray, rainy, snowy day when I hadn't planned to take any bird photos!

I wish we had some of those here Jim. An excellent variety there and all well taken. Here we call an Egret a white heron. Still is an egretta though, same species basically. We just term them differently. Last time I looked we only had around a hundred in NZ and 95-98% of those are in the sth island. I'm in the north and when I see one I click away like crazy :-)

All the best Jim and nicely done.

Danny.

Thanks Danny.
I found that out last month when we visited the south island. I kept seeing signs about the rare white Heron. Took an Eco tour to see and photograph it. Then Merlin kept ID'ing it as an Egret!
Also saw those on our trip to Mexico in Feb. That's where this was taken.

Love those Jim, interesting to see the green around the eye. The only chance I get to see that is on the net. Very nicely done. I reckon it's about time here that we started calling them Egrets as a common name Jim. I really do. I think it could have come from someone years ago that said "That's a really white Heron" and it's stuck. Same family anyway, but the rest of the world calls them an Egret.

Old man ranting here :-) All the best your way Jim. excellent shots!

Danny.

A good collection Jim, and those that follow the opening post as well. We have phoebes in the yard. They have been nesting on the under side of the second story deck. (really the first story but it is a walk out at the back of the house) I like the shot of it in your flowering tree. I see them in the gardens behind the house, on the basketball net, and the pool railings as well as the trees behind the house. They don't seem to visit the redbud that has the feeders. Maybe too much traffic there. Their call is very distinctive.

Andrew

That's a great set of pictures, Jim. I like the pelicans best. I think pelicans are much more photogenic and interesting than egrets or herons. In fact, better than raptors, too. Pelicans make me laugh. None of the others can do that.
This one is getting a suntan on his tonsils. Rich

Thanks Rich. They can be pretty funny. I've a similar picture of a brown stretching and airing it's pouch out from our trip to Florida last year.

Lovely photos Jim that White Pelican is one big Bird nice to see no ducks where harmed when that big boy was landing 😀 🐦 and I do like the egret shots lovely bird 👍

REaly nice set of birds ... I like seeing the egrets as they only rarely make it here but can be seen a some miles away on another strip i=of the Tennessee River and occasionally migrating .... a White heron ... that is rare .... Use to go north of you when younger and my father took us fishing .. he liked N Mn lots of lakes and mosquitoes ... and pike ...

WhyNot