Just A Typical Day In Snowy Egret World

Yesterday afternoon we were watching this group of snowy egrets fishing in the salt marsh during low tide. Whenever you get a group of snowys together in one place you can always count on an argument breaking out. We estimate that snowys must spend a good 60% of their day fussing and chasing one another. This is what they do and they just can’t seem to help it! It usually only lasts a few seconds and all is forgotten until the next snowy decides it now needs to take issue with his friend who had been previously minding his own business.

However, this comical behavior often does provide photo opportunities for us, so we always take time to stop and watch the entertaining snowys.

64 thoughts on “Just A Typical Day In Snowy Egret World”

crazytraintotinkytown on January 9, 2013 at 12:34 pm said:

Beautiful Phil

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  Thanks much D!
  
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petspeopleandlife on January 9, 2013 at 1:10 pm said:

A seriers of some great photos of the snowies.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  I’m glad you like them!
  
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janmasyn on January 9, 2013 at 1:22 pm said:

Great shots on a typical day. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jan, yes a typical snowy day. 🙂
  
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niasunset on January 9, 2013 at 1:39 pm said:

Oh My God! They are dancing as if… what a great shots dear Phil, I fall in love with them. Always you have a surprise for me, I wonder what will be next. Thank you, Love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  I am so happy you like these Nia! Thank you for looking!
  
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niasunset on January 9, 2013 at 1:40 pm said:

Reblogged this on photographyofnia.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  So nice of you, thanks Nia!
  
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meintagesablauf on January 9, 2013 at 1:45 pm said:

chic hairstyle 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:45 pm said:
  
  Oh yes, very chic hairstyle! 🙂
  
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Chillbrook on January 9, 2013 at 2:14 pm said:

Such beautiful birds despite their childish squabbling. Wonderfully captured. I love that last picture particularly Phil. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:46 pm said:
  
  Thanks Adrian! Yes this lot can not be left alone without a squabble breaking out.
  They are in dire need of adult supervision.
  
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Amy on January 9, 2013 at 2:44 pm said:

AWESOME shots, Phil! Those two were like they were showing off … 🙂
What a thrill to capture the moment!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:46 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Amy I’m glad you liked these photos!
  It was fun to see!
  
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viveka on January 9, 2013 at 3:02 pm said:

Absolutely wonderful … what a team you and your camera is. Beautiful birds .. and you have capture all of it.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:47 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for your kind words!
  
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adinparadise on January 9, 2013 at 3:17 pm said:

In that first pic they are positioned something like the cowboys in my ‘Gunfight at the OK Corral’ pic. 😀 Great captures of the spat in progress.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:48 pm said:
  
  Yes it does look like a standoff in front of the saloon in Dodge City!
  Thanks a lot Sylvia, glad you enjoyed these!
  
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HansHB on January 9, 2013 at 3:24 pm said:

Great photos.
Lovely to see these snowy egrets!
They looks funny!
Have a great day!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:48 pm said:
  
  Thank you Hans, I am very happy you like the snowy photos!
  
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Patrizia M. on January 9, 2013 at 4:08 pm said:

Le foto sono bellissime, ma anche divertenti, fortissimi con i ciuffi tutti scompigliati ahaha
Bravissimo Phil
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 7:41 pm said:
  
  Sono così felice che abbiate goduto queste foto! 🙂
  
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lylekrahn on January 9, 2013 at 4:09 pm said:

Great photos of what appears to be colossal waste of time! So what you’re saying is you haven’t figured out their code?

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:
  
  I don’t know, there must be some useful purpose in all this, they do it constantly. Goofy snowys. 😀
  
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Gunta on January 9, 2013 at 5:23 pm said:

They certainly look like they’re dancing! Beautiful, awesome shots as always!

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- Gunta on January 9, 2013 at 5:25 pm said:
  
  I love the three in the peanut gallery in the bottom right corner….. just enjoying the show. They almost look ready to pull out the popcorn.
  
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  - Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 5:51 pm said:
    
    Ha! Tha’t exactly what I thought too! They do like they are enjoying the show and the only thing missing is the popcorn! Especially the one with his neck out, he seems very happy he is not involved but has a ringside seat to the action. 😆
    
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dinajohnston on January 9, 2013 at 6:08 pm said:

Great group of action shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 7:42 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking them out and glad you like them!
  
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sallywoodphotography on January 9, 2013 at 7:08 pm said:

Comical indeed!!! How much do you pay them to do that?

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 7:47 pm said:
  
  There are comical aren’t they?! 🙂
  I receive a monthly bill from SEA. The Snowy Egret Association.
  They keep this up and they will be raising the rates. 😀
  
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  - sallywoodphotography on January 9, 2013 at 9:35 pm said:
    
    Ascending, Descending or Suspending!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:07 pm said:
      
      They will be suspending my account if I don’t pay up. 😀 🙂
      
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Phil Turner on January 9, 2013 at 7:29 pm said:

Lots Of nice shots! Hope that’s all the snow we see this winter!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 9, 2013 at 7:48 pm said:
  
  We sometimes call them “snowballs”. So yes these are the only kind of snowball fights we wish to see. 🙂
  Thanks Phil
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on January 9, 2013 at 10:02 pm said:

The Snowy is one of my favorite birds. Your shots of them in action are superb. It is always a pleasure coming here.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Snowys are usually very active birds and can provide much entertainment so we like them a lot as well.
  I’m very happy you enjoy your visits here! 🙂
  
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Rexlin Victor on January 9, 2013 at 11:47 pm said:

Wow, Fabulous shots!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Thanks, glad you liked the snowy pics!
  
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sakuraandme on January 10, 2013 at 3:22 am said:

Amazing shots! …….Paula x

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:04 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks Paula I’m happy you liked the photos!
  
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roughseasinthemed on January 10, 2013 at 5:11 am said:

I love that fluffy crest. Or those fluffy crests, I suppose. Amazing contrast between the ones spatting away and the peaceable ones just standing by. And then there are the ones who aren’t even interested in the show!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:06 pm said:
  
  That’s the part I liked best about these photos as well…how some seem to be a totally interested audience while others are paying zero attention to the situation.
  Thanks for checking these out!
  
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rebekajo on January 10, 2013 at 7:56 am said:

What a beautiful sight! We’ve had ONE Snowy here, for a while and that’s an oddity. I love the Snowies … hope you’ll keep up with the bills to the SEA 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:09 pm said:
  
  I’m very happy you enjoyed the snowy pics, they are a fun bird to watch and photograph!
  I have to keep up with my payments to the SEA of they will come poop on my car. 😦 🙂
  
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  - rebekajo on January 10, 2013 at 1:47 pm said:
    
    I think our Snowy left as the first snow storm arrived. Never got close enough for any awesome picture, like yours.
    So now I just stick with WWMSA [Word Wide Mallard Shooters Association]…
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:55 pm said:
      
      I hope the WWMSA is not going to start charging dues.
      And I’m guessing the “shooting” is with a camera?! 😯 😮
      
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      - rebekajo on January 10, 2013 at 2:03 pm said:
        
        ONLY camera *ROFL* … I love ducks!
        
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Colline on January 10, 2013 at 8:31 am said:

These are really amazing photographs.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 1:10 pm said:
  
  I appreciate you looking and your kind comments! Thanks!
  
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Janet on January 10, 2013 at 4:09 pm said:

Love the Snowys!! They are very entertaining!!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 9:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Janet!
  
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Robyn Lee on January 10, 2013 at 6:19 pm said:

Fantastic ~ just came from the wildlife refuge — and saw a snow goose!! These images are amazing! ~ best – Robyn

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2013 at 9:29 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much Robyn I really appreciate you looking and commenting!
  Snow goose is very cool! Lucky you to have the wildlife refuge to roam around in and get pics! 🙂
  
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parth893 on January 11, 2013 at 3:19 pm said:

Really Awesome Photos , i loved all of eMM.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 12, 2013 at 10:46 am said:
  
  I’m happy you liked them, thanks very much!
  
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Molly Argo on January 11, 2013 at 5:18 pm said:

Beautiful! I could watch Snowy ‘fights’ for hours!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 12, 2013 at 10:46 am said:
  
  They are entertaining birds and since they seem to battle so often there can be lots of fun to be had out there!
  Thanks Molly!
  
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Pedro Holderbaum on January 12, 2013 at 4:28 pm said:

Nice set of photos!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 13, 2013 at 4:48 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for looking and commenting Pedro!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on January 13, 2013 at 8:06 pm said:

Yes ! What is with the fluffy head cuz I’m pissed off look anyway? They have it mastered. I love how you caught them in action Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 13, 2013 at 8:31 pm said:
  
  Oh it’s their special look alright. The snowys are endlessly comical and entertaining. 🙂
  
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