All Those Egrets, Lots of Tension
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Those three mornings with the awesome variety and vast number of birds meant there was less foraging and general territory ‘space’ for each.
This caused some tension and many skirmishes, especially between the Great Egrets. Beaks up in the air, chests out, wing spread warnings to “get out of my space!”
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Great Egrets trying to protect their space of feeding
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Here’s a skirmish between two just as the sun was beginning to light up the fog as it lifted, reflecting on the water.
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Great Egret skirmish, full scene
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I decided to crop the above photo and three additional to this series for what I thought was a better composition to share the action.
Note the Great Egret on the right who watches the scene too, backing up a bit to not get involved. Smart egret!
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Great Egret skirmish
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Great Egret
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Great Egret
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Great Egret skirmish ending with one leaving for another spot
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Photos by Donna 
Wow, those are awesome photos!!
Thank you, Lisa!
Egrets… Beautful, but feisty… loved the one with them dancing “beak to beak”!!!!
Thank you, Carol! That one is my favorite too!! 🙂
The picture, third from the bottom deserves to be framed…my opinion. All are great, but that one, it has impressed me as one with a lot of artistic expression. Excellent, Bravo again, Donna. 🙂 ♥️
Thank you, HJ! 🥰 I love that shot too, it looks like one is the mirror image of the other. 🙂
Amazing action shots Donna, unusual to see such elegant birds fighting.
Thank you, Ashley! I thought so too, but was glad one would quickly just go off to another spot. 🙂
I’ll add another ‘wow’!!! 😳
Thank you, Gunta!! 😊
Awesome shots Donna !
Thank you, Rudi!
In some ways it looks like a courtship dance, (with necks almost entwined), though it clearly wasn’t – especially finishing with that peck at the end! Great series of pics Donna. 😊
Thank you, Mike! You’re right, it could be courtship dancing too and will be in a few weeks. Right now, every one just want to shove the other around, lol. Who knew you could get goosed by an egret! 😉
Wonderful images Donna, I’ve never seen a skirmish like this before!
Thank you! They were happening every where in the wetlands scene. It was amazing!
Stunning photos, Donna! It may be skirmishes, but your pictures still make me think of elegant and graceful ballet dancers in their classical tutus (as in Swan Lake). 🙂
Exactly!
Thank you, Meggie! Graceful ballet dancing is a much more eloquent description! 😊
Paradise of egrets, with a stunning performance, both behind and in front of the camera.
Thank you much, Hans! Sometimes I surprise myself. 😊
Wowww!! Awesome unadulterated scenes from nature, Donna!!
Thank you so much, Indira!!
Stunning captures, Donna! I love the egret watching and trying to stay out of the way. If only human conflicts could be resolved so quickly. The fourth picture is amazing how their wings and legs and necks pair up.
Thank you, Barbara! I liked that egret watching. 🙂 Yet all the others never paid any mind to the two skirmishing. If only….. 😔
Great series of images Donna! Enjoyed seeing them!
Thank you, Reed!
Great action shots, Donna! Their flight skills for these skirmishes is always amazing, and it’s surprising they don’t draw blood more often.
Thank you, Ellen! There were times a pair was 10+ ft in the air at each other. It always seemed more like shoving with their chests, but I did see a little nip and stab here and there. 😳
These are wonderful shots, Donna! 😊
Thank you, Belinda! 😊
So… how often did you stop and do the ‘happy dance’ ? 😂😂😂
There was no time!! 😂🤣🤣
And that’s what a bird photographer dreams of saying with these big scenes!! 😉
But when I left the birds, I surely happy danced all the way back down the trail to my car. 😎
Wonderful images, Donna! I love the atmospheric fog.
I’ve been to Egret rookeries, but have never seen this many in one place at once! How fantastic it must be to see them in person!
Thank you, Deborah! I’ll never forget these scenes, I’ve never seen so many at once either. I heard this morning they’re back. Hmmmm……tomorrow morning……thinking about it….. 😎 📷
I’m in! I wish! I’ll enjoy your images. 😀
You are not only a great photographer, but are becoming an artist too!
Thank you for presenting us with these incredible photos Donna
Awww…..thank you so much, Eddie, you made me smile a mile wide! 🥰
Excellent documentation of the action, Donna. Great series. 😀
Thank you, Jane! 😊
Amazing photos, Donna, as always. I especially liked the one that would be a beautiful balletic pas de deux in a different context.
Thank you, Imorgana! That is such a pretty shot, I got excited when I saw it on my screen. 🙂
Yes, it’s gorgeous. Perfect symmetry! 😁
I have never seen this many egrets together in one location, Donna. That must have left an indelible impression. But when too many living beings are confined in a limited space it’s stressful. Let’s hope the “arguments” will not be too severe.
Best wishes,
Tanja
Yes, it was quite amazing, Tanja! I’ve never seen so many at one time, and I saw it for three mornings in a row. The water level has been higher this winter I’ve learned from the heavy rains in December, but it is now quickly dissipating daily with the warmer temps. Soon many will be heading north for home and breeding, yay!
It sounds (and looks) utterly amazing, Donna. I have been worried about the effects of this recent winter storm on the birds in the southern part of the country.
For Florida it’s been no problem but along the upper gulf coast and inland and along the east coast, I’ve worried too. They are definitely not accustomed to this past few weeks.
I’m glad that Florida’s birds weathered the storm, and time will tell about the birds in the affected regions. Fingers crossed!
The ‘crossed necks’ shot was my favourite.
I really lucked out with that shot, I love it too!