Dinnertime at the Lagoon
It’s another foggy day along the Indian River Lagoon, but it’s time to eat for our avian friends. Brown pelicans know where to get an easy meal. Let the dolphins do all the work and simply follow along to pick up the spoils of the day. Whenever you see several pelicans all frantically moving about in unison, you can be reasonably sure that there is a dolphin or two in the area. Such was the case today as these two pelicans continually followed this dolphin which was driving small fish into the shallows. At Indian River Lagoon Preserve in New Smyrna Beach, low tide is an ideal ideal to watch feeding behaviors of birds and mammals. The shallow water makes for easier fishing and the exposed oyster bars provide a buffet of crustaceans and worms.
While the pelicans were busy picking up the left-overs from the dolphin, a Great egret and Little blue heron came in nearby to scour the oyster bars. The Little blue apparently did take-out as upon further examination (see next shot), we realized that he was snacking on a Glass lizard, a legless lizard of the south which is terrestrial. The Little blue must have brought it with him when he arrived. The Great egret seemed more interested in watching his dinner mate than searching for his own bite. Always something to entertain us when we take the time to look carefully.
Little blue heron with Glass Lizard - Indian River Lagoon Preserve, New Smyrna Beach, FL
