Pileated Woodpecker Suspended on Spathe Plucks Fruit & Mesmerizing Video Compilation by Karen Marts
- Karen Marts
- Jun 18, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 19, 2019
Hi everyone! Months ago I volunteered at Cypress Wetlands Birthday Party for the Birds. There is an amazing small rookery there, and the marsh is surrounded with Bald Cypress trees, and a variety of hardwoods. You can walk down a path on the left, and are surrounded by Cabbage Palm Trees, Saw Palmetto, and hanging Spanish Moss. In the early spring hundreds of Herons and Egrets will stand in the marsh. I have also seen Wood Storks, song birds, woodpeckers and hawks. On Richardson Avenue you would turn right, and soon see the next boardwalk, which overlooks the rookery. Unfortunately much of the marsh has overgrown on the side by the YMCA, which perhaps can alter the amount of space the birds need for fishing, and change the water quality. I saw 2 Green Herons, Great Egrets and Anhingas in their nests, and a juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron. A Red Winged Black Bird flitted around. I had a nice chat with several Lowcountry Master Naturalists. An early parade was cancelled because of rain. I headed back to the amphitheater for a piece of birthday cake, celebrating the birth of many species of birds! (see videos posted from last year's 2 cakes and the kazoo Happy Birthday song) Of course the sun came out around 11 am. (kids were going to partake in a scavenger hunt for birds, reptiles and plants, but only a few dared remain in the rain) I drove over to The Preserve, a beautiful apartment complex nearby. Sadly there were no nesting birds at all, in their mini-rookery by the swimming pool. I had previously filmed Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Tri-Colored Herons, and Little Blue Herons nesting there. As I headed back to my car, I spied a male Pileated Woodpecker suspended from a spathe on a Cabbage Palm tree! It was plucking fruit, and was practically upside down! What a treat to see such a feat! My life is changed forever, when I see spectacular behavior of birds that I rarely witness.
REMARKABLE RED CREST on Male Pileated Woodpecker Eating Berries of Cabbage Palm! The Preserve Port Royal, SC
Pileated Woodpecker SUSPENDED ON SPATHE PLUCKS FRUIT! The Preserve Port Royal, SC
GREAT EGRETS FIGHTING MID AIR & 3 Baby Egrets Jab Beaks at 1 Adult! Cypress Wetlands Port Royal, SC
3 BABY EGRETS RISE UP & DOWN IN NEST Surrounded by Adult Great Egrets Cypress Wetlands
Green Heron has RED TOES in Breeding Season! Cypress Wetlands Port Royal, SC
Second Green Heron Flies & STRETCHES NECK OUT FAR! Cypress Wetlands Port Royal, SC
3 BABY GREAT EGRETS ON NEST! Cypress Wetlands Port Royal, SC
Great Egret Flies, 1 FEEDS JUVENILE, PARENTS WITH 2 CHICKS & 3 ANHINGA PAIRS! Cypress Wetlands Port Royal, SC
Breath-Taking Black Crowned Night Heron with Red Eyes & Legs Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. This was taken months ago, standing on a small dirt path, to the right side of Ibis Pond. You have to do a bit of limbo to crawl under a tree that fell from Hurricane Matthew; however, it is worth it! Black Crowned Night Herons have never been numerous at Pinckney Island, but I have been lucky to spot up to 6 in one day. I lean toward viewing the dynamic bird rookery around 4-5 pm, and generally film 2-3 hours. The Black Crowned Night Heron only has the red legs and feet during breeding season. It is one of my favorite birds, with a 2 toned grey body. The red eyes are mesmerizing!
BREATH TAKING BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON WITH RED EYES & LEGS UP CLOSE! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Black Crowned Night Heron in HIGH DETAIL & Snowy Egrets & Tri Colored Herons in Nests Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
I also was able to see a Summer Tanager, at fairly close range, back on the gravel road, closer to the front of the refuge. I’d seen this species of bird at a distance in the past, only because someone pointed it out. However, to see it on the camera screen was amazing! I really thought I was seeing a Painted Bunting, so imagine my shock when I saw a tangerine colored bird, with a long bone-colored beak! I would say that the Summer Tanager was my stand-out bird for 2017!
SUMMER TANAGER, Strawberry Colored, SINGS in Tree! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Second Time to See Summer Tanager! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Below are the top videos for 2017. You will be surprised, impressed, entertained, and blown away by the beauty of the birds, mammals, and reptiles. I started this blog months ago. I struggle with finishing any blog, because the pressure to deliver quality videos is immense. Although I have 241 sheets of lined paper, listing the titles of all 6,401 videos, there are times when I cannot locate a specific video to share. Please watch every single video, even if you watch just one per day, as I know you will be thrilled to come along on my adventures!
JOSH HOLDS GREEN WINGED MACAW & 6 DOLPHINS CELEBRATE JUMPING, DANCING, SPLASHING & FLIPPING! SeaWorld Orlando, FL
Karen Marts HUGS A KING PENGUIN! SeaWorld Orlando, FL VIDEO #6,000
Senior Zookeeper TJ Separates Gentoo from King Penguin Named Whopper! SeaWorld Orlando, FL
Magnificent Osprey Underparts UP CLOSE & Tears Into Fish! Hilton Head Island, SC
Osprey Fans Out Wings & Consumes Brightly Colored Fish! Hilton Head Island, SC
Freedom the Parrot Fake Flying in Lush Tropical Landscaping! Coligny Circle Hilton Head Island, SC
Freedom the Parrot Gorgeously Green & Having Fun! Coligny Circle Hilton Head Island, SC
RARE TO SEE A RABBIT in Sea Pines Forest Preserve! Hilton Head Island, SC
Duckweed Covered Alligator Stretches Foot & OPENS JAWS! Pinckney Island National Wildlife
ORANGE RED SHOULDER PATCH WITH YELLOW & WINGS OUT ON RED WINGED BLACKBIRD! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge 2016
BABY COMMON MOORHENS SINK IN DUCKWEED & HAVE TINY WINGS! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
BABY COMMON MOORHEN WITH BIG FEET! Ibis Pond Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
3 Precious Juvenile Anhingas with Cream Colored Thick Feathers Resemble Alpacas! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
3 Anhinga Juveniles BEG FOR FOOD FROM FATHER! Sea Pines Hilton Head Island, SC
ENTIRE ANHINGA FAMILY EXHAUSTED & Tri Colored Heron Asleep in Nest Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
THICK CELERY GREEN LEGS on Little Blue Heron Babies! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
JUVENILE ALLIGATOR DOES HIGH WALK! Dee Dee & Jiovanni Watch in Amazement! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
JUVENILE ALLIGATOR IN HIGH WALK HEADS INTO THE MARSH! Dee Dee & Jiovanni Share the Moment! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
JUVENILE ALLIGATOR IN HIGH WALK THRU SALT PAN LIES DOWN TO REST! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
3 EXTRAORDINARY EASTERN BLUEBIRD JUVENILES Feed Each Other in Tree! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
JUVENILE EASTERN BLUEBIRDS SPECKLES ON CHEST! LaCrosse, Wisconsin Folks Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Fabulous Female Belted Kingfisher Moves Beak & Tail & Dives Into Water
SENSATIONAL CEDAR WAXED WING at Beach Properties of Hilton Head! South Carolina
RED HEADED WOODPECKER CLINGS TO TREE & Flies Across the Road! Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
Male Eastern Bluebird on Branch & Green Heron Walks on Lily Pads! Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
GREEN HERON IN LILY PADS & WHITE FLOWER! Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
Juvenile Little Blue Heron Fishes from Log! Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
Little Blue Heron Juvenile & Snowy Egret Fishing Together & Common Moorhen Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
3 Anhinga Juveniles BEG FOR FOOD FROM FATHER! Sea Pines Hilton Head Island, SC
BABY LITTLE BLUE HERON WALKS ACROSS NEST & SEE RED MOUTH! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
BABY SNOWY EGRET STRETCHES NECK & OPENS BEAK! Adults Nearby Ibis Pond Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
GREEN HERON PUFFS UP, SAWS BEAK ON BRANCH & SHOWS TONGUE! Ibis Pond Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
CATTLE EGRET RARE to See & Tri Colored Heron in Nest Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Spectacular Greens, Blue & Orange on Painted Bunting Eating Seed on Plant Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Little Blue Heron with Mottled Blue & White Feathers is Stunning! Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
6 KILLER WHALES JUMP OUT OF THE WATER, SPIN & WAVE THEIR TAILS! SeaWorld Orlando, FL
SIDE BY SIDE TRAINERS LOVE KILLER WHALES THEN 3 LEAP OUT OF POOL! SeaWorld Orlando, FL
KILLER WHALE SLIDES OUT OF POOL & 360 DEGREE SPIN & WHALES LEAP! SeaWorld Orlando, FL
JOSH RIDES DOLPHIN HIGH SPEED & Dolphin DANCES FIGURE 8! SeaWorld Orlando, FL
Freedom the Parrot Stretches Wings of Blue and Red Exotic Vet Care
Thank you for taking the time to preview the wildlife videos. It is pure joy to watch birds, mammals, and reptiles in their natural environment.
Hilton Head Island has an abundance of beauty that can be seen year round, if you simply take time to search for it.
Have a wonderful day,
Karen Marts and Freedom the Parrot
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