The wood storks were coming over to the bank to get a drink of water. In late April the water was really low.
This wood stork was collecting a stick. Were they still nesting at this point or maybe he was replenishing the one he has.
The babies are always hungry.
A snowy egret showing off.
There were several cattle egrets in full breeding colors. They were just starting to nest.
The little blue herons were also starting to nest.
The fully grown baby cormorants were still being fed by the parents. This one was reaching deep down to get that regurgitated fish.
A boat tailed grackle showing his blue and purple feathers.
Wonderful collection of birds and photos. The rookeries are great places for bird photography. The Wood Storks and the Cattle Egrets are favorites. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend.
Great photos!
The Snowy Egret is really beautiful!
Lots of things going on at the rookery!
An amazing event happened early this morning along the seawall of North Beach Park, north of The Pier, the Vinoy, the swimming facility, and the beach volleyball and tennis courts, but south of the small group of mangroves along the seawall, near the half way point to the Coffee Pot Bayou entrance from Tampa Bay. 7 manatees were gathered within 2-3 feet of the seawall, and in bay water no more than 2-3 feet deep. They were identified as 6 males and 1 female, according to a woman who works for the Bishop Museum’s manatee facility in Bradenton, who lives in St. Pete, and just happened to be running along the bay front this morning. She stopped for the duration after spotting what she told my wife was the manatee “breeding herd.” She was concerned that the “general public” who had already gathered to watch, might actually molest the manatee group, especially some of their barking dogs, or interrupt their activity, and instructed us on “proper behavior,” so as not to disrupt what was going on. My wife and I had arrived on our walk not long after a fairly large group of people had collected to observe what was going on. Thought you might like to know as she said they might be at this for 3-4 days until the female manatee has been successfully mated. So you might have a chance to observe this, too, if not there, nearby. My wife and I took over 100 pictures of the event. No flash. Manatees often “drink” fresh water from a set of pipes draining overflow from Crescent Lake into Coffee Pot Bayou, near 23rd Ave. NE. I thought manatees were gone for the summer “season,” but the lady said they will frequent the area even in the summertime. Good luck! Ben and Brenda Gooden P.S. We have followed your website for the last year or so.