Driving south on U.S. Highway 41 between Williston and Dunnellen (Florida) late on a Sunday afternoon on our way to visit friends, we were simply enjoying the drive. Looking east, I saw the typical Florida scene I have come to love: black cows, white birds, humongous green trees and a dark looming sky.
Suddenly, in the grass field next to the cattle, there were hundreds of white birds flying. This certainly got our attention! We turned the car around and came back to the side of the road to observe.
They would fly up and land in the tall grass. Then fly up again. Moving from one side of the field back to the other. Not still for more than a few minutes at a time.
Some continued hanging out with the cows and others seemed to prefer hanging out on the fence posts.
After a good while observing and absorbing, we were back in the car heading south, doing "research" on the smart phone on the "humble" but ever present Cattle Egret.
We learned:
"The cattle egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones.
Wikipedia
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"The short, thick-necked Cattle Egret spends most of its time in fields rather than streams. It forages at the feet of grazing cattle, head bobbing with each step, or rides on their backs to pick at ticks. This stocky white heron has yellow plumes on its head and neck during breeding season. Originally from Africa, it found its way to North America in 1953 and quickly spread across the continent. Elsewhere in the world, it forages alongside camels, ostriches, rhinos, and tortoises—as well as farmers’ tractors" Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Arrived safely at our destination to friends who patiently "humored" our amazement and appreciation of this "typical" rural Florida scene which was played out before us in abundance this afternoon.
Grateful for the opportunity to witness. Even more grateful for the aptitude to "turn the car around" and be able to appreciate and enjoy what was before us.
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