Snowy on the Island

I finally got out yesterday afternoon for my first photo-hike of the new year, and I found snow here on the Island!  Not the kind of snow we left behind in the NC mountains, but a kind I had never photographed before.  I found this snowy egret fishing at the water’s edge in Shelter Cove Harbor, just beyond the parking lot where I left my car.  I approached to within twenty feet before he flew off to more private surroundings.

It felt good to get out and explore the area, and I found a bonanza of birds at Shelter Cove Harbor.  The water is actually sheltered from the wind there, and large water birds take advantage of the shelter to enjoy the sun.

In one secluded area near the footbridge under the Wm. Hilton Parkway I found four large birds napping close together in the warm sun: a brown pelican, a great egret, a great blue heron, and an anhinga.

All were reluctant to leave their cozy space even as I slowly approached, and I captured several poses before the most wary (great blue heron) left the scene.  The group photo here was taken after the great blue heron had moved a few yards away.  The great egret persisted a bit longer before moving on, and the anhinga left only when chased away by the pelican.

The pelican provided the most entertainment for me since I can’t recall having been this near one of these birds for any length of time.  The slow, studied stretches and grooming activities as the bird aroused from the afternoon nap were both interesting and entertaining, and I took lots of photos to document these new (to me) behaviors.  This bird was clearly relaxed and at home in this element; when I finally moved on to another viewing post, the pelican was still there.