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...
2)
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.
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.
Don't blame me - I didn't vote for him!
Nikon D7500 with Nikkor 18-300 mm; PSE2021, PSCS5
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