Why the Snowy Egret Cruises the Bushes

Here I was, only days ago, feeling sorry for the snowy egret chased from our little harbor by the big bad great blue heron. Turns out, that egret is quite happy to stay out of the heron's way. A buffet grazer, the egret has his own routine.

Dawn seems to invite him to a repast of minnows near the sea wall. The egret balances on the barnacles and gobbles up mouthfuls of them, or at least that's what I imagine as I follow his movements throughout the day. Fishing is available all day near the dock or in the shallows. Mullet are plentiful, if their energetic jumping is any evidence of the bounty in the water.

All too easy for the snowy egret. The real treat seems to be the gecko, ubiquitous here, but very fast. Some are quite small (bitesize, you might say), others are a little more meaty, appetizer weight for a hungry bird.

I didn't see the egret eat this gecko, but he hopped away looking mighty pleased with himself.