After being away for a week we visited the swamp our first day back. The Heron and Egret chicks grow so fast I was eager to see what had changed and who might have moved on.

In the Little Blue Heron rookery the chicks had gone from the protection of their nests on the interior of the island to exploring nearby branches.

The chick above was in a risky spot out over the pond where an alligator could jump up and snatch him.  The chick’s flying skills aren’t established yet so just lifting up may not be an option.

The Little Blue Heron chicks seem to have more interest in their surroundings than the Great Blue Herons we have watched at the same age.

An intense thunder storm moved in so we did not make it to the rookery to check on the Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons on this day.