Ding Darling and the Feeding Frenzy

First of all, cameras do not take the picture, and not every picture is useable.  To quote the Herman Cartoon: "You've got to be really fast to paint birds". This applies to photographs as well. Check out the top right of the picture. <grin grin>

This is a White Ibis where you are viewing the curved beak from below, note the reinforcements on the left and right underside of the beak to make it both light and strong. [you click on any picture to see all pictures larger]

After I downloaded this picture, I spotted the Tricolour Heron hiding in the bush on the left.

This is the same ibis when he was closer. What pretty blue eyes you have...

And this is the same Tricolour Heron showing off his lunch.

The drive around the different ponds at Ding Darling can provide for some great surprises.  On the drive from one spot to the next, a group of people were all looking in the same area: time for us to investigate.

The noise was horrendous, chaos reigned supreme, and the sight was beyond description. Everyone was in a feeding frenzy. Ibis, Egrets,  Wood Storks and ever a brown pelican; all were vying for position so there was some bullying, shoving, hollering, and lots of action.

Next is a Wood Stork diving under a Great Egret to catch lunch.

Another Great Egret about to take off.

Next are two Great Egrets squaring off for extra space.

And this is the Wood Stork lunging towards a Brown Pelican to protect his feeding space.

 Meanwhile, further along the drive, these Blue Winged Teals huddled together in the cool morning wind. Of course, there is always a Gull to photobomb a family picture. 

This is apparently the biggest grouping of teals to appear at Ding Darling in years.

The Cormorant on the left is looking on as two Reddish Egrets seem to be hugging, a most unusual behaviour according to the Rovers who know the things.

And lastly, an attempt at including a short movie about the feeding frenzy. Just press the play triangle in centre of picture, it is kind of hard to see. The movie has sound so watch this at home...

So there you have it, serendipity at its best. I hope you enjoyed it.