Breakfast In the Salt Marsh

When the tide is just right and the minnows in the water are plentiful, wading birds gather in the salt marsh in search of food. White Ibis, Egrets, Herons, and Wood Storks can often be seen feeding side by side in the marsh.

This morning my husband got my attention to show me a long line of white birds lined up on the railing of our neighbor’s dock. By the time I got my camera ready many of the birds had flown down into the marsh but there were still a few white ibis and great egrets surveying the area before diving in to eat.

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White Ibis searching for breakfast in the salt marsh
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Great Egret
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White Ibis
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Great Egret

It’s always entertaining to watch the white ibis as they feed. Usually there is a large group of them poking their long beaks under the water to capture fish. Suddenly, all of them will start wading through the water in the same direction in search of more food. They don’t stay long in any one place. Eventually, they tire of the area and fly off in search of better fishing grounds.

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Ibis dining in the salt marsh
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White Ibis dining in the salt marsh

I never know when I’m going to stumble across flocks of birds in the marsh but it’s always a treat when I see them. I was lucky to see them this morning and was glad to have my camera nearby.

 

Wandering Dawgs 2018 Year in Review

Our 2018 was filled with a few short RV trips, Daytona 500, parades, festivals, Universal Studios Orlando, gardening, Georgia Bulldogs, wildlife, beaches, mountains, and lots of fun!

 

Happy New Year!

Bald Eagles of Alaska

Five years ago we were wandering around Alaska in our RV. As we traveled I was always on the lookout for wildlife and we saw plenty of it.

Along with the many land and sea animals, I enjoyed seeing the birds. The Bald Eagles were my favorite and there were more Bald Eagles than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. We saw them perched in trees, soaring overhead, and even in a nest in front of the Homer Post office.  The most unusual sighting was seeing one fly right beside the truck as we drove along the Homer Spit. I was so busy watching him keep up with us that I didn’t get a chance to take his picture!

He was looking at me
Bald Eagle on Ninilchik Beach
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK
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Bald Eagle in the Lynn Canal between Haines and Juneau
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Bald Eagle in tree beside Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal
Mama and Baby Eagles across from Homer Post Office
Mama and Baby Eagles in Homer
Eagle soaring over bluff at Russian Orthadox Church
Eagle soaring over bluff at Russian Orthadox Church in Ninilchik
Pair of Eagles
We spotted this pair of Bald Eagles as we cruised by on a wildlife and glacier cruise from Valdez

Inspired by Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday photo prompt – birds

June in the Butterfly Garden

My butterfly garden is full of colorful blooms and the butterflies are starting to take notice.

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Butterfly on Mexican Sunflower
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Monarch on Milkweed
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Zinnias
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Mexican Sunflower
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Purple Coneflower
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Black Eyed Susan

The birds continue to come by daily.

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Male Painted Bunting
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Tufted Titmouse
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Ruby Throated Hummingbird
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The cardinals search for dropped seeds on the ground beneath the bird feeder

Happy Summer!

Linked to Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday – Flowers

Wandering Wednesday – Water

I have lived within a few miles of the Atlantic Ocean for most of my life. A dock connects our back yard to a tidal creek.

At low tide, there’s just a trickle of water in the creek.

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Georgia Tidal Creek at low tide

During the low tide, wading birds walk along the creek bed searching for food.

Roseate Spoonbill in Georgia salt water tidal creek
Roseate Spoonbill
Tri Colored Heron finds a snack in a Georgia creek
Tri Colored Heron finds a snack in a Georgia creek
Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Searching for a treat in the tidal creek

When the tide is high, it’s a different world.

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When the tide is high enough, we can hop in the boat and go for a ride

At the mouth of the creek we enter a river and explore the coastal waters.

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Boat ride in Georgia waters near Tybee Island
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Uninhabited Georgia Barrier Island only reachable by boat

And during the summer, when the tide is just right, we can catch fresh blue crabs for supper.

Nothing better than catching, cooking, and eating Georgia Blue Crabs
Nothing better than catching, cooking, and eating Georgia Blue Crabs

This post was inspired by  Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday.