Reddish Egrets are so much fun to watch and photograph, especially when they dance around the water hunting for food. Or, as I found out, when younger ones and older ones interact in the same pond.
I’ve seen plenty of adult ones before, but it wasn’t until August along Black Point Wildlife Drive in Merritt Island that I came across a juvenile Reddish Egret. And I got to see both generations together.
The younger one sort of crashed into the scene as I was photographing the adult – flying in and startling the older bird. The adult got revenge by later startling the youngster. Despite the generation gap, they apparently hang out together. I photographed what I think were the same two birds in the same location a week later.
Maybe they’re family? I can’t confirm that, but I can say definitively that young or old, these birds are entertaining.
It was typical 2024 Florida winter weather when I visited Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Jan. 27. It was sunny, then cloudy, then rainy, then cloudy, then sunny, etc. Rinse and repeat, as they say.