It starts with a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) spending the rainy afternoon fishing in the shallows.  Along comes a great egret (Ardea alba).  The second bird approaches the first.  Then a funny territorial spat seems imminent.  The great blue heron displays and rushes to intercept the egret.  The great egret ignores and walks on by.

These photos cover about 15 seconds of time.  The first three show the heron moving toward the egret.  Meanwhile, the egret strolls casually as if unaware of the heron’s presence, let alone its challenge.

In the end, the heron seems almost nonplussed, deflated even, and the egret seems rather nonchalant, the epitome of that oft overused dismissive interjection: Whatever…

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As an aside, the rookery has blossomed.  All but the cattle egrets have arrived, and I suspect that species will make an appearance in the very near future.  Ibises, anhingas, egrets and herons fill the motte, not to mention the several dozen other bird species who nest and/or hunt there.  It looks to be another great year for this urban marvel.  I can’t wait to share it with you.