Bad Hair (Feather) Day at Gatorland

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Gatorland 4-2-15 by Lee

Snowy Egret – Gatorland 4-2-15 by Lee

We went over to Gatorland on Thursday last week to see what was happening in the rookery section. We have been trying all year to get there. I was able to take over 300 photos, but haven’t had the energy to work on them. After my stay in the hospital, I do things and then wear down quickly. So, I just keep doing and draining, and collecting photos.

Anyway, just wanted to get something up and share some Snowy Egrets in breeding plumage that look like they are having a bad hair day. The photographers were all around and I had a Snowy land on the rail between me and a photographer.

Snowy Egret on Rail at Gatorland by Lee

Snowy Egret on Rail at Gatorland by Lee

Here is a slideshow of just entering Gatorland and then where you start the boardwalk along the rookery. Actually, the Alligators are the main attraction of course, but they patrol those ponds. That gives protection to the birds to make nest and raise their babies, because land critters choose not to deal with the Gators. Unfortunately, an occasional chick falls and the gators get a “small” snack. I have plenty more photos to share, but that will be later. Even have video of two, 1 or 2 day old, Snowy Egrets.

It was a great visit getting to see more of the Lord’s Creation up close and doing what they were told to do. Reproduce.

Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” (Genesis 8:17 NKJV)

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Other Birdwatching Trips to Gatorland

Gatorland – March 2014 ~ I
Gatorland’s Snowy Egrets
Tricolored Herons at Gatorland
Gatorland, FL
Gatorland II – Great Egrets at the Nest>
Gatorland II – Great Egret Chick
Wood Storks at Gatorland

Gideon

 

5 thoughts on “Bad Hair (Feather) Day at Gatorland”

    • Thanks. At least I am breathing so much better. So, what did I do? Go birdwatching so I could breathe in more “pollen.” :(
      Some of us never learn. :) Sure felt great though.

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  3. My goodness, Lee. What super pictures these are. Great work. Thanks for sharing all of these.

    I also had a close encounter with a couple birds this week — yesterday, in fact. I was out a little after 5:00 a.m. trying to get some pictures of the eclipse. It was still dark here, and I had to go out into my back yard — almost to the alley. I walked slowly and carefully, since I really couldn’t tell where I was going for the first half hour. And, of course, I stood very still most of the time, trying to get pics.

    But about 5:30 it was just light enough to see where the buildings and some tress were, and the birds were coming out, flying a little and singing. Two specific birds (later I saw they were cardinals) came across my yard in a really wild manner. They were flying in tandem, but were extremely agitated. They literally chased each other, and would alight, but only for the briefest moment and then take off again, making an abnormal amount of noise. I don’t know if one was attempting to mate with the other, and she was playing hard to get, or if the eclipse itself had them agitated.

    Anyway, I had never seen the birds around my house act like that, but since it was both of them I figured it wasn’t just some crazy bird, but there was a specific reason. After several minutes of their extreme behavior, they suddenly swooped through my yard — over my shoulder and right in front of my face. I could feel the wind from their wings. I was surprised they practically touched me because I thought they should be able to sense me even if they couldn’t see me very well.

    But before I could have any other conscious thought, here they came again. One hovered over my shoulder, and the other flew full-force right onto my hand and camera. He didn’t hurt me, of course, but I was so shocked that I jumped and let out a loud yell. Naturally, the poor birds were even more shocked and took off. I finally decided that in the semi-darkness, they evidently thought I was a low tree or a bush. Not very flattering, but it’s nice to know they were not afraid of me.

    Anyway the first thing I thought of was your picture of Dan with that pink-throated bird that landed on his camera when you guys were taking pictures one day a year or two ago. Only I didn’t have anyone around to snap a picture of me and my cardinal.

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