The rising sun hadn’t cleared the trees at the far end of Ravenswood Pond, making some long shadows. The closer Black-crowned Night-heron had no interest in turning towards the sun.
An Alligator didn’t seem to mind facing the sun.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 20, 2023
This Black-crowned Night-heron landed in a tree to locate some nesting material.
Who knew? They are all attached.
He finally snapped off this little piece.
But dropped it when something larger caught his eye.
This was a marginal improvement; he turned and flew away from me to the small island rookery.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 15, 2023
This Black-crowned Night-heron was busy gathering nest material, undeterred by the fog that was slow to burn off Saturday morning.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 15, 2023
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 29, 2022
The tide was down and this young Black-crowned Night-heron was exploring in the shallow water.
My, what big feet you have!
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 16, 2022
I’ve rarely seen Night-herons of any kind flying with their meal.
I didn’t see this Juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron capture the fish, or if one of the Ring-billed Gulls in the area might have tried to take it.
He headed toward the Spoony Tree…
and dropped out of my sight on the back of the tree to eat in peace.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 11, 2021
I caught this Black-crowned Night-heron dropping feet first into a clump of grass on a pond hummock.
It looked like a tricky maneuver and I doubted he would stick the landing.
With the bird weighing between 1 1/2 and 2 pounds (675-900 g), at the least I expected the grass to bend to the ground.
But the grass held up and there he sat.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 27, 2021
The sun was just coming up, lighting the bird but not yet high enough to reach the water behind him.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 25, 2021
They’ve seen it before…so have I but I still like to photograph it.
3
2
1
Touchdown!
Two adults looking on, ho-hum.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
November 27, 2021
Double-crested Cormorants were calmly sunning on the Spoonie Tree when a Great Egret dropped in.
Then a Black-crowned Night-heron joined the gathering.
It was close to a crash landing, but the Night-heron made it, perhaps to the surprise of the Cormorant.
Then the Night-heron lost points for not sticking the landing. Not that anyone is keeping score.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 27, 2021
