On a recent trip to Fort DeSoto Park in St. Pete, a great evening of birding was capped by the entertaining performance of a Reddish Egret.
I was leaving North Beach, and the tide was going out, so there was just a little stream of water separating the mainland from the beach — meaning there were fish trapped in the shallow water. That made them easy pickings for one Reddish Egret.
Their dance is all about hunting for food. According to AllAboutBirds.org, “They are active, animated foragers and employ their wings frequently when hunting, either opening the wings briefly to startle prey, or by keeping the wings extended and open, probably to coax prey to take shelter in the shade of the wings. They also extend their wings fully over the head and hunt beneath the umbrella they create. This ‘canopy feeding’ also attracts prey to a shaded environment and permits the egret to see prey clearly, without sun glare. … Reddish Egrets also use their feet to stir up sediment and flush prey.”
I also enjoy when their shaggy features on their head, neck and chest. When they get excited and the wind whips these feathers, they look like an avian version of Jags QB Trevor Lawrence.
