This wasn’t a full flight, just a short hop across shallow water that was draining as the tide went out.
Maybe that’s why this young Great Blue Heron didn’t bother with much lift and then dragged his toes on his landing.
Toe Dragging Landing
Tag Archives: Great Blue Heron
Great Egret Not Going to Share Lunch
This Great Egret worked hard in the reeds to capture a Siren, a weird eel-like salamander that hangs out in the mud, and flew to a secluded corner of the pond to figure out how to eat it. He dropped and retrieved it several times.
A Great Blue Heron had been following along, slowly getting closer until the Great Egret decided to relocate, taking lunch with him.
Covered with mud, the Great Egret took this opportunity to dunk and rinse his catch.
He took off again as the Great Blue maneuvered closer.
The Great Blue Heron took off, too. They went out of my sight so I don’t know who got to eat.
Great Blue Heron
This section of the canal that runs around an old rice field at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens has recently been dredged and widened. Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Storm Irma in 2017, followed by Hurricane Michael in 2018 all pushed mounds of vegetation debris into this corner making it less attractive to the various wading birds that pass through.
The upturned dirt has started to sprout reeds and a few Great Blue Herons have been hanging out on the edge.
From the closest vantage point the background still looks a bit like a moonscape. It will be interesting to watch how the birds’ habits may change now that this water can freely flow.
Great Blue Heron in the Pines
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.
Snowy Egret and Great Blue Heron
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.
Great Blue Heron On the Trail
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.
Great Blue Heron Chick Test Flight
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.
Great Blue Heron Chicks Growing Up Fast
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.
GBH: Hopping Over Some Mud
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.
GBH at Long White Bridge
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.
