This Great Blue Heron landed in a pine tree with a mighty squawk, for no apparent reason.
It was a hot morning and I expected him to tuck into the shade but he was content with this perch and looking up and down the pond.
I was hoping that these two would strike poses with either their heads facing the same direction or looking at each other. It was not happening, one or the other would start preening or turned away.
The Great Blue had a pretty wide stance on the log.
This Great Blue Heron had just brought food to his chicks in a nearby nest. The adults often leave quickly, presumably to get away from the young squabbling over the meal they have to share or take from the other.
The adult wandered down over the bank into the edge of the pond which is covered with various water weeds that reflected the late afternoon sun.
This Great Blue Heron chick took a test “fly – hop” from the branch above his nest and over his sibling.
The sibling was less than impressed, but the flyer seemed pretty pleased with himself.
He liked it so much he climbed back up to the top and flapped his wings in the breeze.
I didn’t see him lift off again; he was content to watch the world from a higher vantage point.
I don’t know just when they hatched but these two Great Blue Heron chicks were checking out their world on March 31st.
They were able to sit up and squawk for several minutes at a time.
I didn’t get any good images in between, but by May 5th they had the appearance of adults.
Able to stretch their necks for a better view, their world is just this nest. They are totally reliant on the parents bringing food.
On May 22nd their feathers looked more mature and the chicks spend more time grooming.
I have not seen these two chicks fly yet, but it won’t be long. It has been brutally hot here, 100 F (38 C) predicted for today, and these nests are out in the open with no shade. The chicks will do a pant-like behavior and sit with their wings out to help regulate temperature, which hopefully will help them survive.
It made me laugh to see this Great Blue Heron hop/fly over a little stream of mud created as the tide went out.
I guess it was just a bit too much after wading through worse to get there. He made a nice two point landing on the other side.
Then continued to walk along in the mud.
The azalea blooms have gone by but the Long White Bridge is still a big attraction at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. On a recent afternoon this Great Blue Heron and I had the view to ourselves.
The heron slowly waded around the perimeter, creating a small ripple in the water. There was just enough breeze to move the entire surface of the water so no mirror-like reflections this time.
Surrounded by yellow iris and calla lilies a Great Blue Heron stalked his way across the edge of a pond.
Look closely at the edge of the water on the right hand side in the second image and you’ll see he wasn’t alone: a small Alligator was patrolling the water.
I haven’t photographed this Great Blue Heron nest very often even though it is on the same pond as the others I’ve shown with chicks. The light never seems right or the birds’ position aren’t right. This day was a little different.
After checking that the danger had passed from the intruding Great Egret the Great Blue Heron chick fluffed his feathers back down to regular size.
Then he took the opportunity to wingercize, flapping his wings in preparation for learning to fly.
He didn’t lift off this time, but did do some single wing stretches to complete his work out.
