Fishing in the Deep End, Part 1

Getting up early and hoping to get to the lagoon to see what bird subjects come to hunt the shores of the tide channel as the water heads back out to the ocean. The days have become slightly cooler and you can feel the change of the season in the air. We have another week in September but the Halloween decorations are already up at the stores and even the Visitor Center at San Elijo is getting ready for Halloween fun with the kids.

Arriving too early to park in the parking lot, I find a place near the northeast walkway entrance. Walking past the visitor center, searching for signs of raptors and other flyby visitors to our lagoon, I spot a Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, measures 24 inches long with a wingspan of 36 inches, at his favorite fishing hole at the far south end of the trail. Here he is hunting on the wing over a deeper part of the tide channel.

I love taking shots of this beautiful bird and my focus was completely on staying with his every move. Weighing only 13oz (360 g) he has no trouble hunting on the wing for his fish. If he spots a fish in the deeper part of the lagoon, he can spin like a top in the air or float effortlessly over his prey and pick him out of the water without ever landing in the water. Here he is in a middle of a effortless spin looking more like a ballerina dancer as he watches the fish below.

He takes his eyes off his prey and is looking at something else. I keep the camera on the Snowy and keep shooting.

The mood changes in an instant as the Snowy spins in mid-air and heads away from his fishing hole and another subject enters my camera frame!

It's a Great Egret! Ardea alba measures 39 inches long with a wingspan of 51 inches weighing 1.9 lbs (870 g). Largest of the white herons in our area. He spots the fish directly in front of him as he comes in for a landing.

 

Ooops, I don't think he realized it was so deep. He appears as surprised as those of us watching him from shore. I am glued to the eyepiece of my camera and keep clicking away. I have never seen an egret fish in such deep water before. This Great Egret has landed in the deepest part of the tide channel. There is a sandbar nearby but he has managed to land in the deep end of the channel. 

With his long legs, he manages to walk forward and pursue his prey on foot. 

 

His pace quickens... You can see the fish just in front of our egret. 

The egret finds another deep spot as he moves forward to get into striking distance of his prey.

 

He has stepped into a deeper area and makes a half-hearted attempt to grab his prey but the fish manages to keep out of the strike zone.

Always keeping his eyes on the prey and lol, it appears that his prey is keeping his eyes on him too.

He uses his wings to help him walk forward in the deep. The fish is still nearby.

 

There appears to be a whole school of young fish around him but he has his eye on "that one" in front! 

Oh no... he sinks deeper but doesn't want to give up on his prey. 

He is now looking more like a swan than an egret!

Few more steps, the fish appears to be teasing him.

Now the fish makes a turn and this move may have been a big mistake, the fish is heading into the shallows. 

 

The egret makes progress forward with the help of his outstretched wings. The prey fish is still near, almost in striking distance of the Great Egret!

 

The egret has reached the sandbar and moves forward towards his prey. 

 

As if the fish knows the egret is gaining on him, he scoots forward.

The fish is just far enough forward to be out of the strike zone of our egret. 

The egret gives himself a shove on the firmer ground beneath him and lunges forward trying to get close enough to his prey for a strike.

A huge effort as the egret pounces forward.

 

The fish must be laughing at him.  Staying just out of reach of that deadly beak.

The fish slows and the egret stays still to see if he can make a strike. 

The distance looks good for the egret to strike!

Catching the egret in mid-strike pose!

A close-up of the fish. 

 

The egret strikes...

But the fish has evaded him again!

He comes up empty billed. 

Where is that little fish?

Which way did he go?

 

Found him!

Going for it again.

The strike...

 

Success!

Yes, we are very glad you finally got him!

 

He is done with his deep water fishing and off he goes to hunt on the channel bank with both feet out of the water. I watched him for a while and he was very successful at spearing a large California Halibut. What a beautiful day to watch this amazing Great Egret hunt for fish. But there is a "rest of the story" to this fishing tale and I will post it in Part 2 of "Fishing in the Deep End" next!

Have a super week everyone!