Friday, July 24, 2015

Young Snowy Egret Takes the Plunge

With not much bird activity at the San Elijo Lagoon, I decided to go back to Oceanside Harbor to see if I could get another look at the Least Bitterns again. I didn't get a shot of the bitterns but a young Snowy Egret fledgling flew in and proceeded to take a bath. I was very happy to get such a beautiful bird subject to photograph taking what appeared to be his very first bath.

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As I was looking for the Least Bitterns near the Oceanside Harbor bridge, three Snowy Egrets came flying in right into my camera lens range. I noticed that two were adults and one was a very young looking juvenile. He came strolling right in front of the area were I was standing and proceeded to take a bath. Just the way he was behaving and the HUGE amount of talcum powder type of dust that came out of this young bird told me that it was probably his very first bath. Below are the some shots that show the youngster bathing. He was absolutely precious to watch. What a cute little guy and such a beautiful bird too. 
 
Slowly sinks to his belly...
But gets nervous and looks around to see if I could be a threat to him. 
Feeling more comfortable with my camera pointed at him he submerges straight down without any warning. 
 Washing his face...
 The expression on his face is precious!
He may be thinking... "That was fun" as he squats down again and feels the water with his wings. 
Up again but he gets that look in his eyes like he is going to take another plunge.
"Is anyone watching"? He shrinks himself and sinks lower into the water.
Boom! He takes another dip.
Really working his head underwater. 
LOL... he has that precious expression under water too.
 Isn't this the cutest little snowy you have ever seen?
 
If Snowy Egrets could smile I would have to say he is smiling right now. 

Look at all that talcum powder fluff floating on the surface in front of him that has flaked off his body! 
 He has that look again... to plunge or not to plunge.
 He is really thinking about it. You can still see all the debris floating in front. 
 Plunge! LOL, yes, he is that quick to drop from standing to submerged. 
 He is so adorable. What a sweet sweet bird this little egret is. 
 Now he looks like he is getting the hang of it and enjoying his bath. 
 Yes, he is smiling again! Really working his wings now. 

 He is getting wet all over. LOL, If I was a few feet closer I would be wet too. 
 He pauses.
 He is thinking again... plunge or not to plunge.
 Looks my way was as to say "what do you think... plunge or not to plunge"?
 
 I give him the thumbs up and he thinks about it for a few more seconds.

PLUNGE!!!
 Using his beak to clean and scrub all around
 Pumping the wings to get the water to all the hard to reach places. 
 Working his wings. 


He looks to be sure he is still safe. The two adults are nearby and appear to be standing guard as this youngster takes his bath. 
 Slowly sinks down again. 

 Another plunge?
 No... this time he just works his wings. 
 A few more splashes to get water all over. 
 Slowing down. 
 
 The fluff from his feathers is still all over the surface of the water .
 I thought he was done with his bath but it looks like he wants one more dunking. 
 Really got some water on his back this time. 
 
 It's amazing that his crown feathers don't even look wet. 

Few more pumps of his wings to get the water sloshing under his wings and he appears to be done. 
 
 Folds his wings and slowly rises up.
 One giant shake.

Now the wings work to air dry them. He just keeps flapping and flapping them, flicking all the water off his feathers. 
 He is all done and looking very clean and refreshed. 
 Lots more flapping of the wings as he walked towards one of the adults. 
 His feathers are so clean and bright they are "glowing". 

All clean and refreshed, he flies over to join an adult that has been standing patiently watching over her youngster. Another adult Snowy hunts for fish nearby. This has been another wonderful day at the Oceanside Harbor and now it's time for me to head for home. 
 Have a refreshing weekend everyone!
 

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