ROBERT SNAP SPOT
Snowy Egret on Darien River
Seafood on the menu. A stroll on the dock.
Wildlife: Birds of the Air – Rivers – Cellpic Sunday
A Walk with the Locals
It was November 8, 2022, and we were staying overnight in historic Darien before visiting Sapelo Island the next day. Driving down from historic Savannah, Georgia was not far at all. Georgia sure has a lot of historic seaport towns.
After a fantastic seafood lunch at Skipper’s Fish Camp, Neal and I took a walk down to the floating dock behind the restaurant, along the Darien River.
A walk by the water seemed perfect, with plenty to catch my eye along the way.
““I can plan a walk through town. What catches my eye along the way gets a say in how long it takes.”
– Robert
Well, we weren’t the only ones out for a stroll! A striking white bird was moving along the dock, looking as though he had lunch on his mind while we had just finished ours.
Lucky for him, in Darien, seafood was on the menu too!
A Local in Golden Slippers
Time for my go-to, iNaturalist’s visual search, and a little help from Google.
I knew it! A snowy egret.
The white feathers, slender black bill, black legs, and bright yellow feet fit the Snowy Egret’s identifying features.
You can find this Darien visitor in my iNaturalist observation.
THIS WEEK I NOTICED
What We Discover on the Journey
Darien gives a person plenty of reasons to keep walking. Founded by Scottish Highlanders in 1736, the town grew into a port shipping cotton, rice, and timber. Later, shrimping became a major part of its waterfront life. Looking back at those tabby ruins, I think about how much work once passed through these streets and along this river. There is a lot behind the view we stopped to photograph. Darien’s history
The surrounding coastal marshes and waterways also make this a place for watching wildlife. Down on the dock, that history of making a living from the water felt close at hand. We had enjoyed our seafood at a restaurant; the egret appeared to be considering his options right beside us. Different lunch arrangements, same stretch of river. Yea, I liked that.
Hunt for Supper
“Robert, don’t get too close and scare him away!” Neal knows me. A beautiful bird, sunlight on the water, and my camera at the ready!
We watched him move along the dock, stopping near the edge with his attention turned toward the river. Was he looking for lunch, or getting an early start on supper? I could only guess. He certainly hadn’t invited a photographer to join him.
““Privacy please! A bird ought to be able to browse the seafood menu without a photographer following along.” Ha!
– Robert
We never saw him catch anything. He kept moving along the dock, and we enjoyed watching him go about his afternoon. I had to admire those yellow feet stepping past the dock hardware. Our lunch was finished, Sapelo Island was still ahead of us, and here was another reason to enjoy being in Darien with Neal.
Room for One More Walker
Pull back a little, and you can see the hoses and dock fittings he was sharing with everyone else.
“Whoo, watch your step, little fella! Don’t get tangles up!” I wonder how many times he had walked this stretch before we came along.
THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES
Slow Down by the River
Nowhere to be for a while? Pull up alongside us for a minute. Smell the freshness on the breeze and see the river shimmer with movement. I’d enjoy hearing about something you remember from a past trip. Planned or unexpected, both make a story to tell.
Have you walked by a river or water lately? Ok, not the back yard pool, that certainly does not count, Ha!
“Traveled for lunch, and we enjoyed the river, the wildlife, the Day ”
— Robert
📍 Darien River, Darien, Georgia
Collection
Wildlife: Birds of the Air, Rivers, Cellpic Sunday
Joining Cellpic Sunday — The Ocean’s Promise with an afternoon from our Darien travels.
Captured with
iPhone 13 Pro Max
Published by
Robert Snap Spot
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