Enjoying the Dance of the Reddish Egret
After a busy week traveling to frigid Wyoming, it was good to get back to Tampa to spend a wam Saturday morning at Fort De Soto Park. We had sunny conditions and the tide was low. Walking onto the beach there were surprisingly few birds. So I walked further down the beach where there was a small group of photographers taking pictures of a pair of Reddish Egrets and four Red-breasted Mergansers. I joined them, focusing on the Reddish Egrets.
One of the Reddish Egrets was in breeding plumage with its two-toned bill, and the other looked like a juvenile bird. I took a few photos of the juvenile, but mostly focused on the adult.
Reddish Egret (juvenile). The young Reddish Egret may not yet have a beautiful red mane, but it does know how to properly dance in the water. Red-breasted Mergansers in the background tagging along. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/8.0, 1/3200 sec, ISO 1600.
The Reddish Egret is a fan favorite of photographers primarily because of its behavior. As it searches for prey it appears to dance in the water. It uses its wings to shade the water while providing balance as it quickly turns to keep up with the fish. It uses its feet to churn up the sand, and it stabs the water with such ferocity that water splashes several feet high. This bird gives so many looks that you’d think it was born to be a model.
Reddish Egret. Running through the water, the Reddish sleeks back its feathers and maintains laser focus on its underwater target. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/8.0, 1/2500 sec, ISO 1000.
Reddish Egret. Coming within reach of its prey, the Reddish begins to spread its wings. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/8.0, 1/3200 sec, ISO 1100.
Reddish Egret. Finding a minnow, the Reddish strikes. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/8.0, 1/3200 sec, ISO 1100.
After I got a few shots of the Reddish Egret, I next focused on the plovers scurrying about. The Snowy Plover looked the best with its black crown stripe, dark ear patch, and a black patch on the side of its neck.
Snowy Plover. Ruffled up after a little shake. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/8.0, 1/2000 sec, ISO 800.
Black-belly Plovers were in good numbers on the beach as well. They are a little more wary of people than the Snowy’s, but the sighting of a good worm is sufficient distraction.
Black-belly Plover. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 500.
Piping Plover. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor in Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/8.0, 1/2500 sec, ISO 640.
After shooting the plovers, I walked over to a hidden lagoon where I found a lone Tricolored Heron. It was only out for a few moments before it ducked into the mangroves, but it was just long enough for it to catch a minnow.
Tricolored Heron. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1250.
At the end of my morning walk on the beach, a Snowy Egret flew in. I caught it just as it was putting down its landing gear over the water.
Snowy Egret. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens handheld at f/8.0, 1/2500 sec, ISO 640.
Although a relatively quiet day at De Soto, I really enjoyed the long walk on the beach with the perfect weather. This week I’m in Concord, California for work, then I’ll head back down to Fort Lauderdale for about a week. I look forward to visiting some of the sites that I missed during the Everglades Birding Festival.
Until then, happy birding!
