Fort Desoto North Beach
It’s been a while since we went to Fort Desoto. Being that its on the beach on the Gulf of America, its similar but different from the other places that we usually go to.
After parking the car, there were a few Kingbirds flying in the trees and grass
Kingbird taking off from the grass it was perched on
Kingbird coming in for a landing on a post
Fort Desoto is a reliable place to see Magnificent Frigate Birds
Willet standing in shallow water
Another Willet taking a morning nap
Ibis rooting around the water for food
Reddish Egret doing its hunting dance
Reddish Egret White Morph landing in the water
Reddish Egret White Morph hunting
Reddish Egret White Morph with the Reddish Egret on the move…
The Reddish Egret White Morph running to keep up…
The Reddish Egret White Morph is starting to catch up
The Reddish Egret White Morph taking off towards the other end of the beach
Reddish Egret flying low over the water
When the Reddish Egret White Morph is backlit, it really shows off the fancy plumage
Reddish Egret White Morph hunting
A very puffed up Reddit Egret White Morph
Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing
A group of Willets flying past
Another Magnificent Frigate Bird
Reddish Egret hunting
Reddish Egret getting a side look at a fish
Reddish Egret doing more hunting
Reddish Egret getting some air as it hunts
Reddish Egret making a splash hunting
Reddish Egret gets its fish!
Reddish Egret doing what looks like a ballet move
The wind picked up as the Reddish Egret hunted
Reddish Egret hunting in a shallower area
Reddish Egret checking if everything is ok underneath
A Royal Tern can’t enjoy its fish while a Laughing Gull is chasing it down for the steal…
The chase continues…
Evasive moves might help…
Flying low might work to shake off the Laughing Gull…
The laughing Gull seems to have the high “ground” but it can’t keep up with the speedy Royal Tern
Another Magnificent Frigate Bird in a dive
Near the parking lot is a relatively low Osprey nest with young Osprey peeking out
Even as a youngster, Osprey can look very intense
Learning to make Osprey calls
The young Osprey is panting to cool off on a hot day
Mom and junior looking out at the people looking up at them
Mom doesn’t seem impressed with the photographers watching her young Osprey
Meanwhile dad Osprey is hanging out next to the nest. He’s a morph called a Bohemian Osprey with his very pure white chest
We had a great time at Fort Desoto Beach Park. The Reddish Egrets are always fun to watch and the Laughing Gulls trying to steal fish was really exciting!