Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Territorial Dispute

After the recent storm, I went walking with my wide angle zoom lens on the camera.  A nice lens for cloud filled skies but not the best for birds.
While sitting at the edge of a pond I noticed a dispute had arisen between two Snowy Egrets.
One evidently had claimed the pond as its own, private hunting preserve and was determined to chase off the intruder.
 They raced around the pond,
 sometimes as graceful as an areal ballet,
other times more like a dog fight.
finally one gave up and flew off alone.
I wonder when I observe this, what happens to the birds that don't find an unoccupied area to hunt?






















The egrets weren't the only hunters out there, I also saw this immature Cooper's Hawk.




It too took to the air.

Find more images of birds by going to Wild Bird, Wednesday, hosted for us by Stewart at Paying Ready Attention

21 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Wonderful bird captures and lovely skies, Martha!! I, too, am often reminded of the ballet when watching the birds here! So beautiful and graceful and free!! Hope your week is going well!

i stora drag said...

Really nice photos! Love to see the white birds against the blue sky!
Greetings Pia

Brian King said...

Great shots of the egrets even with the wide angle lens! I've seen herons do the same thing numerous times. Love the photos of the hawk!

eileeninmd said...

Cool shots of the egrets, I hope they both found a nice spot to have their dinners. The hawk is a great sighting too. Wonderful photos.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Love the flight/fight sequence...and your question has me worrying...and musing about nature....... Great place to walk by the way.

Adam Jones said...

Lovely Egret flight shots.

mick said...

Beautiful in-flight photos.

Gaelyn said...

Nice to see the flight show.

Anni said...

Fantastic images of great birds!!! I know just how difficult it is to frame birds in flight...you've mastered the skill.

Barb said...

Martha, the egrets gliding and skimming must have been a sight to behold. Your photos show the action so well.

Fjällripan said...

Beautiful photos of both the white egrets and the hawk!

Unknown said...

Great series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Larry said...

Beautiful shots of both the Snowy Egrets and the Cooper's Hawk Martha! Egrets can get pretty possessive when it comes to foraging habitat and some of those chases pretty aggressive! You captured the moment well! As for the Lewis's Woodpeckers, I think they can be seen down there, probably during the winter. Here is a range map and the website with the bird list for Lincoln Hills which has them listed. You might check with your local trip leaders as to where they can be found down there. They are fun to watch!

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Very professional photography of nature's gems ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

Anonymous said...

Nice captures of the action!

Wally Jones said...

Very nice images! I'm enjoying your site.

Stewart M said...

Hi there - I think that being able to watch birds "behaving" rather than just "sitting" is great - you may not end up with the best pictures - but its great fun.

Thanks for linking to WBW

Stewart M - Australia

Judy said...

That aerial ballet would have been something to see! The one photo, where they are curving around over the water, is beautiful!!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Nature is not all fun and games. Great shots.

Phil Slade said...

Nice reporting of the egrets dispute Martha and I love that Coopers Hawk in flight shot.

Janie said...

Magnificent bird shots! And so interesting to see the egrets having a dispute while in flight.