mecynogea_palustris's Identifications
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)Observer
judygvaPlace
Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, 15014 Deepwood Ln, Nokesville, VA 20181, USA (Google, OSM)
Photos / Sounds
What
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)Observer
hcosteDescription
Volunteer seedling in reclamation area
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Egret (Ardea alba)Observer
lauralovesbirdsDescription
At least a half dozen Egrets appeared to be on eggs. They sat low in their nest. And as many more Egrets flew back and forth delivering nesting materials to their mates who were waiting at the nest.
In April 2021, we counted at least 22 trees with more than 100 nests across two blocks. https://ebird.org/checklist/S88211273. Since then, at least a half dozen trees were cut down to build new houses. More info quantifying nests here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S138243635.
My all time high count of Egrets here was 310 in Jun 2021: https://ebird.org/checklist/S90662715
Today I counted at least 18 nests in just one tree - the tallest tree on Pretty Lake Ave south of the apartments. There are less trees; so it looks like the remaining trees have more nests than prior years.
I first discovered Great Egrets nesting here in 2017 (7 years ago).
There is an even larger rookery on a small island south of Knotts Island: https://ebird.org/atlasnc/checklist/S106202914
Stats
- 23211
