A Peaceful Day In The Marsh? No…Of Course Not!

Yesterday we were watching a small group of snowy egrets and white ibis picking around in the salt marsh among the oyster beds at low tide. Everything started out quietly enough, but whenever snowys are involved we all know that the peace can’t last for long. Sure enough, once a snowy decided that an ibis was getting too close to his “area”, the inevitable squabble broke out! After the usual amount of squawking, bill banging and required display of wings, they went right back to the all important task at hand which was feeding…of course in this crowd the peace only lasts until the next disagreement breaks out!

50 thoughts on “A Peaceful Day In The Marsh? No…Of Course Not!”

Gracie on October 15, 2012 at 12:23 pm said:

Love these action shots! Excellent captures!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Thanks Gracie I’m glad you enjoyed those!
  
  Reply ↓
monisertel on October 15, 2012 at 12:23 pm said:

Hi Phil,
just I’m back from my holydays and the first what I see are your wonderful, exiting series, great work!!! Love it!
Have a nice start in the new week,
moni

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:04 pm said:
  
  Hi moni, welcome back and thanks very much for stopping in! I appreciate your kind comments!
  
  Reply ↓
starlaschat on October 15, 2012 at 12:34 pm said:

Boy they did get fussy! They remind me of Karate Kid I think he was trying to imitate a Red capped crane? Now I can’t remember. Funny this weekend I took some photos of a salt marsh as well. I think it was a salt marsh. I’m not exactly but when I took close up photos the white looked a lot like little halloween ghosts kind of scalloped like your above photo.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:06 pm said:
  
  Thank you for checking out the pics and you are right these guys really did get all fussy!
  
  Reply ↓
janmasyn on October 15, 2012 at 12:35 pm said:

Excellent series.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks I appreciate you looking!
  
  Reply ↓
einfachtilda on October 15, 2012 at 12:42 pm said:

So wunderschöne Fotos!!

LG Mathilda

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:07 pm said:
  
  Vielen Dank für Ihre freundlichen Worte Mathilda
  
  Reply ↓
Molly Argo on October 15, 2012 at 12:56 pm said:

I love watching this snitty little bird!! Your captures of him really show his attitude! Beautiful photos!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:08 pm said:
  
  Oh that little snowy has plenty of attitude alright, but the ibis wasn’t having it and gave it right back!
  Thanks much Molly!
  
  Reply ↓
Kitt Crescendo on October 15, 2012 at 1:04 pm said:

That’s awesome. I loved shots 2 & 3, especially.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:29 pm said:
  
  Well I really appreciate you checking out these pics and also your kind comments!
  
  Reply ↓
thehappyhugger on October 15, 2012 at 1:18 pm said:

They’re all excellent shots 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 1:29 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for looking and commenting! 😀
  
  Reply ↓
lylekrahn on October 15, 2012 at 1:34 pm said:

Kind of ironic – they get cranky and we get excited.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 5:42 pm said:
  
  Exactly!
  
  Reply ↓
Vibeke Henriette on October 15, 2012 at 2:42 pm said:

Can almost hear`em, nag nag nag … 😉

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  Oh yeah nagging and complaining…plenty of that going on. 😮
  
  Reply ↓
adinparadise on October 15, 2012 at 3:05 pm said:

What can I say, Phil, except “Fabulous photography again.” 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much! Appreciate your kind comments! 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Grace on October 15, 2012 at 3:14 pm said:

Amazing shots! So full of life. 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  Well that’s vey nice of you to say! 😀 Thanks
  
  Reply ↓
crazytraintotinkytown on October 15, 2012 at 4:10 pm said:

Remind me of my squabbles with my siblings!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  I know what you mean. 😮
  
  Reply ↓
Gunta on October 15, 2012 at 4:11 pm said:

Fantastic sequence. I’ve only seen my Great Egrets solitary and serene…. what fun to catch the squabbles of this bunch!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 5:45 pm said:
  
  It can be interesting and amusing to witness their cranky behavior!
  Thanks much for checking these out!
  
  Reply ↓
Mitzi on October 15, 2012 at 4:30 pm said:

Oh these are just fantabulous!!! I just love the beak snatch shot…wow, now if only we had the ability to do that! 😉 Happy Monday!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 5:46 pm said:
  
  I’m so happy you like these pics! 😀 Enjoy your week!
  
  Reply ↓
Bella Remy Photography on October 15, 2012 at 6:31 pm said:

So fabulous ! You always have such fantastic lighting on your bird shots. My favorite is the second one with their bills in the air. Squawk!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 7:24 pm said:
  
  Wow thanks! Glad you like the ‘fight photos’! 😀
  There was plenty of squawking going on!
  
  Reply ↓
meyer23 on October 15, 2012 at 6:40 pm said:

Really exciting shots. Full of life.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 7:24 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for looking and commenting!
  
  Reply ↓
Patrizia M. on October 16, 2012 at 12:17 pm said:

This fabulous series of photos. I apologize for my English but I’m using an online translator.
Regards, Patrick

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 16, 2012 at 12:32 pm said:
  
  Thank you Patrick, the English came out fine. 😀
  
  Reply ↓
orofiorentino on October 16, 2012 at 2:58 pm said:

BELLISSIMA sequenza di foto.BRAVISSIMO. Regards, Orofiorentino

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 16, 2012 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  La ringrazio molto per le sue gentili parole e sono contento che ti piacciono le mie foto!
  
  Reply ↓
Fergiemoto on October 16, 2012 at 5:52 pm said:

Fabulous display and wonderful captures!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 16, 2012 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much for looking and I appreciate your kind comments!
  
  Reply ↓
Jennifer on October 17, 2012 at 3:57 pm said:

Wow, just wow. You are so talented. We miss you at the club.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 17, 2012 at 6:00 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks a million for stopping in Jen and I appreciate your very nice comments!
  Yeah I have not been around UH as much lately, I’ll try to stop in more. 😀
  
  Reply ↓
Coreen on October 17, 2012 at 5:17 pm said:

Love them all. Your work is fantastic.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 17, 2012 at 6:01 pm said:
  
  That’s so nice of you to say Coreen! Thanks
  
  Reply ↓
niasunset on October 19, 2012 at 6:07 am said:

How beautiful they are… I wished to understand what they were talking… 🙂 Thanks and Love, nia

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 19, 2012 at 10:05 am said:
  
  I myself would love to know what they are saying to each other but it may not be nice. We talk for them and imagine what they are saying. Thank you Nia!
  
  Reply ↓
  - niasunset on October 19, 2012 at 12:23 pm said:
    
    he he he… Do you know, I don’t see only your photograph that you capture, I can see you too behind his camera watching, waiting patiently all these beautiful birds. This is great, great experience and exciting… You are welcome, love, nia
    
    Reply ↓
    - Phil Lanoue on October 19, 2012 at 12:49 pm said:
      
      That is so nice of you to say these kind things Nia!
      I am so happy you enjoy the photos! 😀
      
      Reply ↓
drawandshoot on October 20, 2012 at 5:04 pm said:

Terrific, Phil!
They show up so nicely on the darker background.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2012 at 6:21 pm said:
  
  Thanks a lot! The background was a bit more busy then I would have liked but yes at least the white birds do show up well against it.
  
  Reply ↓