There is a place in the marsh that is difficult to get to. If you don't know where to go you may never find it. The Great Egrets and the Great Blue Herons like to nest there. Most people know of the place closer to the highway but not this one.
I went there yesterday and got a few pics. They are still building the nest.
I'll not upload all; only a few. The trees here are thick and tall. The water is deep and dark.
Great Egret
Most Great Egrets are showing high breeding plumage
another
Both Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons nest here.
Wonderful!
We only see these birds after the nesting is over. What a treat!
There is a spot between the highway (cars zooming at 75 mph on each side) north of here that the great blue heron nest in the marsh. I am surprised there are not accidents for all the gawkers as they drive by. What a crazy place for them to build nests, but there are many huge nests there.
Another shot of both.
I just loved looking at your beautiful photos of these magnificent birds and their nests. Thanks for sharing!
They are ever watchful. Some watch above.
While others watch below. Mr. Sneaky is always a danger to anyone in the water.
This message was edited Mar 26, 2008 4:13 PM
The water below the nesting site is as deep as ten feet.
Sheesh, How in the world did you get the pictures?
Mr. Sneaky warming up after a cool night.
Oh my gosh wonderful pics Frank!
Great Blue Heron.
Sometimes thr trees will be full.
I don't think there are any eggs in the nest yet. But soon...
This can be a noisy place. It seems they are always trying to steal nest.
Or maybe they only get confused about who owns the nest.
There is much going and coming all the time.
Some just cannot be still.
While others just perch and watch.
It is easy to see why these birds were once hunted for their breeding plumes.
The nest are high up giving the birds a good view of the marsh.
Still watching
Some perch on limbs.
Others are on the nest.
Some keep moving twigs to make the perfect nest.
Some must defend their nest.
and
other birds stop to inspect how the nest building is proceeding.
Always there is that deep gutural croak and the air is full of squawks that can only come from large birds. This is a place where one can spend hours watching and listening to these wonderful birds.
Wonderful series Frank! Looks like it was a great day!
Thanks for sharing them w/ us!
Wonderful Pictures!
Fantastic Frank...what a wonderful trip!!
Now if I was a serious bird photographer I would drag a boat through the woods, row out into the gator infested water, climb a tree close to the nest and get some really good shots. OH! did I forget to tie the boat to the tree?
Thanks for the pictures. They are great.
Don't you love that squawking those blues make? Sounds like chairs grating on the tile floor.
GAH! watch out for that Mr. Sneaky!!
There is no other sound like it. It gives me a thrill everytime I hear it. It sounds so primeval.
