[SBB] Great Egrets at Palo Alto Baylands

[Ron Wolf <[[email protected]]>]

Although activity is winding down at the egret rookery behind the 
Palo Alto duck pond, a great show is just about to begin.

So far this year, there have been at least five pair of great egrets 
nesting at the top of palms. Only one of those nests has been 
partially open to view. The others have been obscured by palm fronds. 
However, there's one late-nesting pair that has built a nest almost 
completely open to view, unobstructed by fronds. But the location of 
this nest isn't particularly obvious. It's easy to miss.

Go through the gate on the maintenance road along the east side of the rookery.
About 60 feet past the gate there's a small palm tree on the east 
side of the maintenance road. Just past this palm tree, back up to 
the edge of the water,
away from the rookery. Then look up at the top of the palms. It's 
necessary to back away from the fence and the maintenance road to get 
a good clear view. The nest isn't nearly as open to view from the 
maintenance road or the fence line.
The secret to getting a great open view is to back up from the 
maintenance road.
(Be careful, however, not to step in a ground squirrel burrow.)

I'm pretty sure that the egrets on that nest have been incubating 
eggs for three weeks. In light of the usual incubation period, we 
should see chicks up there later this week. All the usual feeding 
will go on for the next 8-9 weeks. In light of the obstructed view, 
this location should offer a spectacular look at the procedings. Any 
photographer with a long lens should be be able to get great shots. 
Even a 300mm lens should be enough. One really neat feature of this 
nest is that it is open to morning sun while the fronds in the 
background remain in the shade. It couldn't placed be any better for 
photos if it were set up by a Hollywood director.

   --  Ron Wolf
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