A flock of Black-crowned Night-Herons have been roosting around the big pond at Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery.
Every time someone walked underneath them, or sometimes for no apparent reason, they flew off.
A few minutes later they would fly back in ones and twos, putting on quite a show.
I’ve seen a few Black-crowned Night-Herons in this location before, but on Sunday estimated at least 30 to 40 birds. There may have been more that just staying tucked into the trees.
Wow. I think I can count on one hand the number of Black-crowned Night Herons that I have seen in my entire live.
It was crazy, Mike, not what I was expecting at all!
We gotta be ready for whatever nature throws at us. As some wise person once said, “Expect the unexpected.”
What a special treat!
Yes, it was, Rebecca–you just never know what you’re going to see when you get there!
This is a bird that I’ve never seen out in nature. Seeing this many would be awesome. Thanks for sharing your photos!
From the All About Birds range map it looks like they’d just be migrants through your area, so it could happen!
This sure was treat, glad that you liked them, Rebecca.
They really have eyes and a gaze that penetrates straight through the viewer.
Wow! I’ve never seen Night Herons sitting way out on open branches like this, nor so many at once anywhere!
It was quite something, and I’m sure there were many more tucked into those trees that I couldn’t see. They had to be comfortable there as they kept circling back every time they got startled off.
How lucky to see this rather rare bird. We only have the blue and the silver herons that are common.
Yes! We see the Black-crowned version through out the year, but usually only one at a time.
Wow, I’ve never seen so many at once! Great sighting, Ellen!
Thanks, Donna, it was a fun to see.