Egrets in trees? (1 Viewer)

[yardism]

I went to a spot today, county park, that happened to be closed, so we didn't even get out of the car. I spotted in the distance, what appeared to be 2 snowy egrets perched up in the top of a fairly tall tree. This is probably 15 miles from the wetlands. There is a creek nearby though.

Anyone ever seen Snowys in trees like that?

 

[Lapwing2011]

Not egrets, but I've seen grey herons in trees before, just last week in fact so it's not out of the question

 

[davercox]

The closely-related Little Egrets, certainly, after all they nest in trees.

 

[Cristian Mihai]

The closely-related Little Egrets, certainly, after all they nest in trees.

Correct.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Ciconiiformes also roost in trees.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

At Bombay Hook in Delaware, you often see flocks of snowy egrets roosting in the trees.

 

[snowyowl]

I often see egrets in trees, particularly Great Egrets.

 

[Zackiedawg]

In Florida, all of our egrets nest in trees - we routinely see snowys, greats, and cattles mixed in among great blue and tricolor heron, anhinga and cormorants, in the nesting trees.

 

[cornishaich]

We get Egrets in the trees here on the Helford and Fal Creeks all the time if that is any consolation or help!

Harry :t:

 

[Dally]

As has been said, Little Egrets are commonly perched in trees - indeed, for most of the time that they are not hunting or flying in my experience.

 

[Birdbrain22]

Egrets is trees are not at all uncommon.

 

[Bird_Bill]

Seen snowys numerous times in trees.This past summer ran across mixture of snowys and
little blue herons at confluence of miss & mo rivers in big sycamores there.

Edit: As snowyowl mentions,think Ive seen greats more often than snowys in trees.

 

[rjackb]

As Zackiedawg suggested, both herons and egrets almost, if not always, nest in trees in Florida. At least in my experience, cormorants tend to nest separately from herons and egrets but also in trees. But still, I wouldn't be surprised to see cormorants in certain areas nesting near herons and egrets--I just haven't observed it. I have never observed an anhinga nesting site so I am not sure about them.

 

[yardism]

Thanks for all the input. I was certain they were Snowys, but had never observed them that way before.

 

[snowyowl]

As Zackiedawg suggested, both herons and egrets almost, if not always, nest in trees in Florida. At least in my experience, cormorants tend to nest separately from herons and egrets but also in trees. But still, I wouldn't be surprised to see cormorants in certain areas nesting near herons and egrets--I just haven't observed it. I have never observed an anhinga nesting site so I am not sure about them.

The Anhinga, GBHE and DCCO at Homosassa Springs nest in adjoining trees.

 

[Zackiedawg]

Here's a wide shot taken with a P&S nearing dusk, where the small black dots in the trees are both cormorants and anhingas nesting, and the white dots are a mix of cattle egrets, ibis, and snowy egrets:

http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg/image/122222267/original

They are in the same remnants of nests left by great blue herons the prior month. Indeed they do commonly nest together in these parts - which leads to some squawking, snapping, and fighting on occasion to claim and protect their space.