Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

The runner slides into home plate, scaring off the catcher while the umpire keeps watch

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The runner slides into home plate, scaring off the catcher while the umpire keeps watch
A great egret is scared off by an arriving great blue heron. (© Tony’s Takes)

A bit of a baseball analogy to this fun scene. I was photographing an unusual gathering of birds at a local pond last Friday.

My main focus was on a beautiful great egret, a bird we only see here in Colorado briefly during migration and not in great numbers. Next to it was a great blue heron, creating a nice contrast. Suddenly, the great egret leapt into the air as a second great blue heron came in to join in the gathering, scaring off the big, white bird in the process.

Such a fun, rare thing to witness, making it well worth braving the cold temperatures and wind at the time.

Taken in Adams County, Colorado.

Lots of wings in motion!

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Lots of wings in motion!
American white pelicans, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants and even a great egret take flight. (© Tony’s Takes)

Well, this was a crazy scene I witnessed yesterday. After receiving my second dose of the COVID vaccine (Moderna), I decided to go for a walk around a local open space. There, I came across this very odd gathering of birds.

In the corner of the pond there were 30+ pelicans, 10+ great blue herons, a few cormorants and even a great egret – all gathered together in a very small area.

Seeing that many pelicans in one area isn’t unusual as they fish in groups. However, great blue herons don’t usually hang out together unless nesting and usually aren’t inclined to tolerate other creatures. I don’t know, but I am guessing a bunch of fish had gathered in the area and everyone was having a feast; that is the only thing that would seem to make sense.

It was definitely something I haven’t witnessed before. It didn’t last long as soon after I started photographing, someone came along the path and that was enough to scare them off resulting in this crazy cacophony of activity. You can see each of the birds I mentioned if you look close.

Video: Top Shots 2019 – Birds

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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

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The odd couple
A great egret makes a catch while a pelican swims by to investigate. (© Tony’s Takes)

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

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Great Egret nabs a small meal
A Great Egret grabs a shad from a pond in northern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

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.

A Great Egret grabs a shad from a pond in northern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Egret grabs a shad from a pond in northern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Egret grabs a shad from a pond in northern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Egret grabs a shad from a pond in northern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Great Egret makes a stopover in Colorado

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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.

A Great Egret wades in a pond on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Egret wades in a pond on the Colorado plains. (© Tony’s Takes)