Snowy Egret tiptoe landing – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday was kind of an opening day at Farmington Bay and the Snowy Egret show was the highlight of the day. It was the first time that the gate south of Goose Egg Island has been open since late winter. I’ve been told that the gate gets closed then so that the birds that nest there get some peace and quiet. Opening day means I can get to more of the WMA and the birds that are there. By the way, the gates open the Thursday before the youth hunt in Utah, the hunters have their own opening day which is different than what I call opening day. I guess that date could be called the bird photographers and birders opening day.
I saw and photographed plenty of Snowy Egrets doing all kinds of things. Except eating. I didn’t see a single one of them catch and eat any food. I saw one landing on their tiptoes.
Late summer Snowy Egret in flight – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And many of the Snowy Egrets in flight in front of me and high in the sky. This one flew by close to me.
Snowy Egret with its wing tip in the water – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And while this Snowy Egret was slightly farther away I liked how the wing tip was just barely skimming the surface of the water with one down stroke of the egret’s wing.
Dashing Snowy Egret landing in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And this Snowy Egret? I thought it looked dashing but I am not another egret and they may have thought it looked more than slightly perturbed. I did like the wedge-shaped feathered crest.
Snowy Egret with a Covid hair style – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Which may or may not look better than this Snowy Egret who looked like it had as Covid hair style. I’m certain that many of us can relate and may have looked like this over the past year and half. Right?
Snowy Egret chasing off an intruder – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Quite a few of the Snowy Egrets I saw had big attitudes and seemed very territorial. That meant there were aerial chases…
Two fighting Snowy Egrets in late summer – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And more than a few fights. None of the egrets were injured but the fights were animated and loud. I liked the pose of the egreton the left and couldn’t figure out what happened to the head of the bird on the right until I realized that it was covered by the feathery crown feathers.
Summer Snowy Egret lifting off – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When the Snowy Egrets were a distance from me I was able to take images that showed the wetland habitat of the marshes at the WMA.
Fighting Snowy Egrets at Farmington Bay – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Some of the Snowy Egrets were very feisty and they were fun to watch and photograph. These two certainly were.
Snowy Egret in head on flight – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And I laughed out loud when I saw this photo on my computer screen at home. This isn’t a view I see often and for some reason this egret looked like it had more than one double chins.
Snowy Egret next to a wooden pole – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And this one appeared to be enjoying being in my viewfinder. It hung around for longer than most of the egrets did by a couple of wooden poles nest to the road.
Defensive Snowy Egret – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Finally this Snow Egret was voicing its displeasure at another egret that this one may have thought had gotten a little too close to its perching place.
I have a feeling that more of the Snowy Egrets that I photographed yesterday will show up here again sometime soon. They all made opening day at Farmington Bay fun and exciting.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Snowy Egret photos plus facts and information about this species.
Spectacular series!!
What a totally delightful series. Mega thanks.
It is still dark here but I am smiling. Broadly.
We are in lockdown at the moment and my hair is definitely in shaggy dog stage. And now I will think of it as ruffled egret instead…
It was interesting that they were not catching any fish, but rather were preoccupied by guarding their personal space. BTW I have seen them stirring the water with their “golden slippers” to drive prey from hiding.
Ken, I have seen them stirring the water with their “Golden Slippers” too, it is fascinating behavior.
Joyful images today Mia! 🙂
Thank you Grace.
What a fascinating show! Terrific photos. Gorgeous birds!
Thanks Ann!
Wow, wow, wow! what a day. Wish I could have been there. And such fabulous photos too! Days like that help take away the sting of all the not so great days recently.
Pat, the good days surely do help. You would have had a blast there yesterday.
Indeed!👍👍👍