January 3, 2024

I am a Western Cattle Egret

Sometimes, I eat small birds

But mostly I eat insects, fish and frogs

But a dead deer? That would be quite absurd! 

I was shocked when I saw this until David pointed out that no, the Cattle Egrets had not gone into beast mode, they were actually eating the bugs that were accumulating on the dead deer!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Cattle_Egret/lifehistory

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Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 25, 2017

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere, by the old office

They have been doing a lot of prescribed burns out at the park lately. It looks great out there, but I think this guy would disagree. I am not sure if he was actually caught in the fire or was just covered with soot. He turned around, but on his other side you can clearly see what is either soot or burns. I am pretty sure it's just soot, he didn't really look hurt, just kind of befuddled. And he was able to fly ok. But he was at the very least, having a really really bad hair day.

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson