Photo Session with a Green Heron

Green Herons are often found hunting along the water's edge meets heavy cover.  I was fortunate to find a open area where Green Heron were hunting nearly every morning.  Taking advantage of the opportunity I set up before daylight and waited.  As the morning began to brighten a heron arrived and began stalking the shallows long before there was enough light for photographs.  Fortunately the bird stayed allowing me to observe and photograph it for nearly two hours. 

 Fluffing, or shaking

Preening 

Scratching

Stalking

 And more stalking

 Making the catch

Exposed: Green Heron

Although quite common around wetlands and creeks in our area, Green Herons seldom expose themselves to photographers or birdwatchers.  The most common sightings of them are when they suddenly flush from the thick brush and just as quickly drop back into it after a short flight. 

This time I was the one concealed in the thick foliage when as a green heron hunted the marsh.  A few minutes before these photos were taken I was able to observe this bird catch and swallow a good sized bullfrog however intervening leaves prevent photography. 

With neck extended the appearance of the green heron is strikingly different than when it is pulled tight against their body as seen in the image below.

 

  

Green Heron: A Rare Encounter

Green Heron's, while common in my area are secretive birds that are seldom seen.

Green herons spend the majority of their time in heavy cover around the edges of lakes and wetlands hunting for fish, invertebrates, frogs, and salamanders.

Normally the first indication of a green heron being in the vicinity is when it flushes from heavy cover uttering it sharp kyowk.  The short flight usually ends when the heron plunges once again into deep cover where it is virtually impossible to get a second look.

However this bird showed considerable tolerance allowing me to approach to with in a few yards with the boat.  After an extended photo session the little heron walked back the log and was swallowed up by the cover surrounding the lake.

Encountering a good friend along the shoreline I handed him a camera to make this shot of me as I normally "hunt" while photographing waterfowl and waterbirds.  The boat serves dual purpose on these outings as the fishing rods are always close at hand.

Wetland Chance Encounters

I am accustomed to spotting wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and mallards during my frequent visits to the wetlands but during a recent visit I was surprised to spot this unusual pair.  The mallard showed all the signs of wanting to flee but with his partner showed little concern.  In the end the mallard's fear won out as the pair glided off to a quieter area of the marsh.

What kind of duck is it?  Darned if I know, probably a domestic cross breed that found it preferred the marsh over waddling around lawns and barnyards.

Green Herons frequent the marsh but the surrounding willows overhanging the water's edge seldom allow a chance for a photograph.  My normal sighting occurs when a green heron flushes from cover.  That all changed when this heron pick a high observation spot near my hide.  I shot a few images, none noteworthy.  Suddenly something caught its attention and for a moment its crest lifted.  The raised crest imparted the little bit of extra oomph I was looking for.

When I pick up the camera and head into the outdoors I usually have a particular target species in mind but ofttimes return having captured something unexpected.  On this particular outing my goal was to check in on the young mallards, wood ducks and mergansers.  I didn't encounter any ducklings on this visit but the odd duck and green heron more than made up for it. 

Yawn: Green Heron

Financial collapse, presidential election posturing, and high energy prices may excite humans but the Green Heron finds it all extremely boring. The trivialities of our world pales beside the important things in the Green Heron’s life.

Life in the wetlands may appear quiet and serene but for each life sustaining meal that one creature consumes, something else must die.

The heron yawns before beginning feeding for the day while at the same time keeping a sharp lookout to assure its own safety.

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Green Heron: Fishing from a Tree

At 5:00am the irritating sound of my alarm clock roused me from my deep slumber. Staggering into the kitchen in my sleepy stupor I made my way towards the fridge to begin preparing my morning cereal. No, it’s Saturday, and I really don’t have to get up this early! Still stumbling about I returned to the snug comfort of bed. When I awoke again I felt refreshed and the sun was not yet up. Passing the fridge I grabbed a banana, swung the camera bag on my shoulder and snagged the tripod while heading out the door.

Too late to photograph the dawn, I headed instead for the Haines-Seville. While covering the few miles to my destination I realized that I should have taken time to grab a pair of rubber boots as I would be walking some distance through grass and everything was drenched with heavy dew.

Soon after setting out on foot I was soaked to the knees. Before I could get into position I bumped into a flock of wood ducks. Being totally wild birds that are not habituated to humans, they did not hang around; but that is a story for another day. As the first rays of sunlight reached the water I was in position.

Song birds flitted among the willows, a Great Blue Heron winged by, a Wood Duck passed over landing some distance away, soon a Bull Frog surfaced nearby with just his head and eyes protruding above the surface and then I noticed the leaves shaking on a branch overhanging the water.

A glance through the binoculars revealed a Green Heron standing on the limb. After cautiously moving the tripod into position I waited for the Heron to reveal itself.

The little Heron was feeding in a manner which I had never observed before. Instead of wading along the shoreline in search of prey as Herons commonly do, this Heron was walking back and forth on the overhanging branch and spearing its breakfast from its elevated perch.

For more Camera Critters visit Misty at her Camera Critters blog.