There’s One In Every Group
This past week we had a large group of snowy egrets hanging around for a few days.
But since we are talking about snowys…one is always certain that there will be one particular aggressive agitator that feels compelled to get everybody else all stirred up.
The alpha snowy in these cases can usually be identified by the extreme fluffiness followed by endless chasing of the otherwise quiet group.
Here we see the individual in question start to get all excited and then begin chasing (well, herding actually) other snowys in a small water channel between two oyster beds. Once the mission is accomplished they all go right back to feeding. All except you know who…he goes back to chasing and fussing.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
He’s so impressive yet comical in a bedhead type of way 😉 Great images!
That sums it up perfectly! Thanks!
My pleasure 🙂
This is fabulous – what a great post about this ‘fluffy’ behavior! We have many Snowys in our area, but I don’t usually see groups like this. Never knew about this herding behavior. You have to love the hairdo 😉
We have had a pretty good crowd of these guys here the past several days and that almost always means an amusing (at least to us) confrontation or two. 🙂
I think I know some people like your agitator snowy. Alas, they don’t get all fluffy on the outside like he does, though they may get a bit red in the face.
I think it would be fun if people got to fluff up this much. Plus it would be easier to spot the trouble makers. 🙂
It would be fun for sure, though bald guys like me could be secret troublemakers. 🙂
He’s certainly showing who’s boss.
That is his exact motive. 🙂
Having exerted his authority, he lets them alone. Looks so comical but the others know better than to cross him!
The really funny part is how the behavior just continues on…sometimes for hours. 😀
These are beautiful, I am glad you shared the series to see the stalking and attitude of the sassy Snowy! 🙂
I really appreciate you checking these out, thanks so much!
He might be a bully, but he is adorable 🙂
Yeah, that’s the thing, they sure can be cute! 🙂
Love These!
Thanks a bunch!