Saturday's Critters #72
Happy May and happy weekend, everyone! It's Saturday and it's time to share your critters.. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who has linked up in the past and for those who are linking in on this week's critter party. And of course I always appreciate my blogging friends stopping by just for a visit.
These shots are all from Kissimmee's Gatorland in Florida.. Their rookery is probably one of the largest I have ever seen. They say the the heronry or I call them a rookery is popular with the Egrets, Herons, Storks and the Anhinga because of the alligators. The birds nests are high enough above the gators and they feel protected from critters raiding their nest such as the raccoon.. The raccoons will not go near the alligators..
Momma feeding her chicks..
I loved seeing the egret chicks up close, usually they are high up in the trees..
One nest had some Egret chicks that looked a little older..
This photo you can see some of the alligators laying in the water right below the egrets and their nest..
This Great Egret is showing off beautiful feathers and the pretty green color on his eyes.
This is a look at the rookery from the top of the tower..it only shows a small part of the rookery at Gatorland.. I hope you enjoyed this post and now I am looking forward to seeing your critters...
Thanks to Tex Theresa aka Tex, I was able to add this link up button and thanks to Jennifer for creating my photo badge.
To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.
Also visit: I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni. Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.
Thank you for the visits and for all the nice comments.. As always I appreciate your participating with my critter party..Have a happy weekend!
87 comments:
Egrets are one of my favorite birds but I've never seen a baby egret or a rookery. This was very interesting and your photos are great!
I cant even imagine the excitement of seeing so many birds in one area - the shots are fabulous - the feathers glorious.
The egrets are gorgeous. How amazing to see the cute chicks so closely. Have a wonderful weekend, Eileen!
Your egret nesting photos are fabulous, Eileen. I marvel how the parent can stick that big beak so far down the chick's throat. The next to last photo with the egret's feathers spread out so elegantly makes me think of a wedding photo, so gorgeous.
This was a wonderful experience for you to see so many of these birds nesting together in one place and to see them in breeding plumage and then also the beautiful chicks feeding. Fabulous images. thanks for hosting. Have a lovley weekend.
such a beautiful post Eileen. Great to see your images as it is the only way I can see this. A post to come back too :)
So gorgeous, what a treat to see the Great Egret in person . . . and see the chicks too.
Priceless shots!
Wait'll you see what I'm bringing back - IF I can get it back in the cage!!!!!!
ALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Hello Eileen, what awesome shots of the egrets and their chicks. Amazing that the alligators actually form a protective barrier for the egrets' nests. Thanks for hosting this meme. Happy Saturday to you! Jo
this is incredible, and one of the loveliest posts of yours. Beautiful babies, grand mama, feeding, and safety in a higher nest.Thanks so much for sharing.
Amazing images you show.
That's a good point about the alligators keeping the nests safe from predators, but I still don't think I'd like to see that below me!!
Have a great weekend, Eileen! We're finally WARM, so I'm sure going to enjoy some much needed garden time!
Great photos of the egret with the little ones. The egrets among you are many times more beautiful and graceful than the egrets in the Netherlands. My complimenen for this prachtie photos.
Enchanting recordings.
What an adorable baby birds, so fluffy, well-done pictures!
♥ly greetings from Germany
Jutta
Have a wonderful and sunny weekend :-)
Fascinating photos, Eileen!
Oh, I do hope the Egret chicks are good flyers when they leave the nest for the first time!
The photo of the Great Egret is really special. Such beautiful feathers!
Happy May!
Good morning, Eileen.
What a beautiful pictures of the Egrets.
The little ones are so cute.
Have a happy weekend.
I love them all, but the first one is my favorite. Tom The Backroads Traveller
Sensacionais tuas fotos!ADOREI! bjs, chica
Elegance of egrets, beauty of nature around us... Wonderful pictures!! Have a Happy May, as well and lots of joy, always! AlexaT
beautiful shots eileen!!
i LOVE the egret chick!!! so happy to see he has a place in your header pic!!
i also love the shot of the great egret displaying his feathers. wOw!! love the green eye shadow! :)
have a happy weekend!!
These are beautiful! :) Such pretty feathers!
What a super find, Eileen. I know of only one egret rookery here in Ontario but it's hidden and I have never seen it. This is wonderful to see the very young egrets!
Thank you, Eileen, for all these lovely birds photo. I get to see all these lovely birds and their babies up close.
WOW! These are just amazing! I love the beautiful adult - such feathers I've never seen. And the babies - so special! We have a while before our baby swans are born up here...it's like our version of the royal baby watch!
Glorious shots of the Egrets showing off their nuptial plumage and their delightful offspring.
Does the beauty ever end? No.
When I view these egrets and the unending variety of nature, I know it didn't all just happen.
Blessings.
fuzzy little guys
Hari OM
Who can't love a baby anything and this egret is no exception! The one of the fanning feathers is outstanding... YAM xx
Fabulous!!! Have a happy weekend, Eileen!
✿⊱·.
Fotos maravilhosas!!!
A primeira e a quinta foto são incríveis!!!
Ótimo fim de semana!
Beijinhos..·°هჱ
❤ه° ·.
i am curious - are those feather soft or just look that way? am i the only one who thinks of these kind of things? very cool bird. i enjoy the birds you share. my Mom gave me one of her bird books (she had tons) & now i can look up birds i see & get all the details. so fun! i am moving up in the bird world. happy to link up with you this week. so fun. have a nice weekend. take care. big big hugs, Eileen. ( :
Eileen.....this is priceless!!!
One of the BEST posts you've ever done in my opinion!!!
Really beautiful photos, Eileen. Wishing you a nice Sat.
Wonderful shots of the rookery! You mention how the high water at the time of nesting helps protect the nests against predators. In south Florida, over the past 4-5 years we have lost virtually all of our nesting Wood Storks largely due to interruption of the natural Everglades hydrological cycle. Beginning with a freeze a few years ago that sharply depleted the fish stock, we had late summer droughts that failed to raise the water level. Waiting for optimal water depth, the storks either did not nest or delayed their breeding from November until as late as February. However, heavy spring rains increased the water levels and diluted/dispersed their aquatic prey just as the baby storks needed the most food. To find water of the appropriate depth the adults wandered as far as 50 miles, resulting in fewer feedings and widespread loss of nestlings. The storks have adapted by shifting their breeding range northward.
Baby egrets! Not your cutest little critters, are they? Great shots, Eileen.
Fantastic photos Eileen. I especially loved the ones with the chicks. Adorable little things. Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend.
Eileen, these birds are so elegant and beautiful. I really like the way the wing feathers echo the shapes of the foliage. The little one is sweet.....lovely photos!
Have a great week!
Ruby
These are stunning and startling! As ever! Wow.
i like how they're smart about alligators keeping them safe from other raiders! love the beautiful displaying photo! thanks, eileen!
Great captures. : )
Hello Eileen!!!
The Great Egret is such a beautiful bird!!Wonderful pictures!Fantastic images!!Like the little egret chicks!So cute!!Have a happy May and a lovely weekend!
Dimi...
omgoodness, these are really AWESOME!! what a sight to see!!!
thanks for hosting!!!!!!!
these need to be published for the public to see them.. your photos are AMAZING and the first one feeding and the second with the babies should be published so the world can see how gorgeous these birds are. fantastic post and one of my most favorite. i am going to put your link on FB so more people will see them.
These have to be the best Egret shots I have ever seen. In fact, I am not sure I have ever seen such young babies ... our rookeries are way to high to see down into the nest. These are wonderful. And the Great White is exquisite ... wooing a female, I presume :) I am on the verge of getting the SX60 ... can't wait, though I know it doesn't guarentee pictures like yours, at least there will be hope :) Thanks, Eileen ...
Andrea @ From The Sol
A(dork)able. They are so fuzzy and goofy looking. You really hit the mother load. Literally!
those birds are wonderful
The baby egrets are so cute!
Oh goodness Eileen, you know I had to go back twice to view them all again, even before commenting. We rented a trailer for a week in Kissimmee when the children were younger but we never saw this place! Such priceless beauty there and your captures of it. I must go back!
Brilliant Eileen, especially the first three, they are tremendous.
Simply stunning images Eileen. Carol
The shot where the Egret is showing his feathers is superb! So, is the one where the young ones are feeding off the mother's beak. Beautiful photos, Eileen!
Happy Weekend!
Peace :)
those close-ups are amazing! Sorry I didn't know about this theme and already posted. But I'm enjoying nonetheless. :)
Lovely pics, Eileen!
I need some alligators to protect the suet feeder in W.V...
~
Stunning images Eileen - especially the egret showing off its feathers - just beautiful! (Thank you for hosting too)
Such darling "baby photos!" The Great Egrets are so pretty! I always love the way they drape their feathers.
That Great Egret with its feathered plumage is superb! Thank you, Eileen, for visiting my blog ... I've been a rather intermittent blogger just recently!
Beautiful egret photos!
Thanks for hosting this meme!
Have a wonderful week-end!
Lea
Such wonderful shots of the birds in their nests.
Growing up, my sisters and I had a saying, "It's so ugly it's cute!" And that's what describes those fuzzy little babies to me! Lovely, lovely shots in such a beautiful presentation. Your blog is one of the classiest ones out there!
Great photos! I wish I knew where they had their nests around here. I've only ever seen the adults.
Wow, wonderful birds !
Fabulous images, the babies are so cute!
Oh! Such awesome photos of the momma and her chicks! Really enjoyed them.
Eileen, egrets are truly beautiful birds. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful egret pictures! Love the chicks!
Amazing pictures, Eileen!
Have a nice Sunday!
Beautiful birds, the you guns are adorable.
Beautiful photos, Eileen, of the egrets and especially the one of their nests in the greenery, and the alligators lurking below! Yikes! The one of the mama feeding her baby is precious!
Happy Sunday and wishing you a wonderful week ahead!
Poppy
Hungry mouths to feed! And a face that only a mother could love!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Wow! What amazing photos. Those little chicks are so funny looking at that stage, but they grow to be beautiful birds.
Beautiful family of birds and lovely scenes from their live !!
Happy Sunday :)
Hi Eileen, Your pictures are always marvelous. Thanks for giving the chance to be a part of the adventure.
Dearest Eileen; Wow, I just was SO amazed that you could capture these scenes(^_^)ｖ I would be too excited and faint p:-) The closeup is fantastic and SO many egret together!!!
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Hi Eileen, I have never been there but it does look great! The egrets are so beautiful! Have an excellent coming week!
The egret shots are breathtaking, Eileen. Just spectacular! Fascinating that they have chosen the gators as their protectors (in a way). The same thing (sort of) happened here with the Blue Heron rookery at Stanley Park. The herons moved (about 10 years ago) to a spot right beside the tennis courts. One theory is that they thought all of the human activity would discourage the eagles from coming around to steal their eggs and chicks. It did work for a while, but now, the eagles are used to humans too.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post at I'd Rather B Birdin' Eileen...again, it just happens to be a favorite of mine that you've published.
Fantastic photos ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !
ohhhh...those first shots are to die for. Wonderful captures.
Those chicks are adorable. Wonderful shots all the way around.
Lovely captures Eileen!
The babies are so cute!
I so enjoyed seeing these Egrets, you know we have quite a few of them here in North Texas too. They make their nests way up high in the oak trees and they almost look prehistoric. These babies are so cute with their wild hair do's!
Thanks for sharing!
Jemma
What a beautiful set of photos on the Egret feeding its chicks, but pic N° 5...... I would have love to shoot it, just fabulous with its breeding plumage fanned!
Great stuff here again :)
Such wonderful moment you have captured :)
This place has been on our to be visited list for years and we still haven't made it. You did it in one vacation. Someday we'll make it. Thanks for the great pictures; what a neat place.
Amazing shots of the little ones!
What a sight to see so many egrets in one place. I love those cute chicks!
WONDERFUL shots of the egret feeding her chicks and love the shot with the feathers out like a peacock.
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