When I take pics of flying creatures, I do usually focus on raptors. However, every now and then I will train my lens on less aggressive birds. From ducks to pelicans and meadowlarks to egrets, small and large have all been captured by my camera. Here are some of my favorites from the past year.
The odd couple
A great egret and American white pelican share a pond and fish together. The pelican was actually annoying the egret greatly as their fishing styles are quite different.
Pelicans swim along constantly, dipping their bills and straining the water out to retrieve a catch. Great egrets are far more precise, holding motionless and then suddenly darting their head in the water and grabbing a snack.
Every time the egret would get something, the pelican would come over to check it out, ruining the egret’s technique.
Great Egret nabs a small meal
Came across this series of pics I captured back in April but hadn’t shared. This Great Egret was hanging out in a small pond and nabbing these little fish with relative ease. We don’t usually seem these birds here so it was a lot of fun to not only see one but also get some pics of one.
Great Egret makes a stopover in Colorado
A first for me seeing one of these in person as they only migrate through the Centennial State. I happened across this one hanging out in a suburban pond, I reckon resting its wings before it continues on its journey. Not a great picture due to harsh, mid-day light but it was fun to see and document one.
They are commonly found in winters along the Pacific coast and Mexico while some stay year-round in the southeastern United States. The Great Egret is actually the symbol for the National Audubon Society, an organization founded originally to protect birds that were being killed with impunity for their feathers. That hunting actually drove the Great Egret to near extinction in the late 19th century.
