Green Herons tend to be shy and I was rather surprised to get a series of images of this one out in the open.
He landed on a dead tree hanging over a pond.
Over a couple of minutes he turned
Boynton Trail, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
June 29, 2019
I happened upon a Green Heron perched over a small pond.
Turns out he was looking for dinner and went beak first into the water.
Got it and sprung right out!
Pretty sure “it” is a frog.
And in a matter of seconds the heron swallowed it.
At first glance the fallen palm frond at the edge of the pond looked like a giant eye looking back at me. Even so it’s a peaceful scene.
This spot seems to be quite popular with the Green Herons right now.
As with most things bird, it probably has to do with food.
There is water beneath that grass, hard to say how deep, but enough to support the kinds of squiggly things little herons like to eat.
I’d had my eye out for a Green Heron on our first day back at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Usually they are tucked up at the edge of a pond or in low hanging limbs.
I was rather surprised to find this one stalking around in some swampy grass right out in the open.
He was finding something to eat, I saw just the swallowing.
I walked a remote trail this morning along an old rice field canal and was happy to see a number of Green Herons. They were pretty skittish and I most were rear end views.
The majority of them were down closer to the water but this one was interested in something happening in another tree.
This is the same Heron as above, taken from the other side of the tree.
The tide was almost out and this Green Heron was looking for a snack in the shallow water along the edge of the river.
I missed the catch but captured the meal being swung about.
Then, instead of eating the fish right away the heron took it for a walk.
He kept right on walking into some reeds at the edge of the river, out of my sight.
They were close enough to be in the same frame, but I did not get both the Alligator and Green Heron in focus.
The Green Heron was going about his business, picking small snacks from between the water plants and the Alligator paid no attention.
A Green Heron struck up a standard heron pose on a limb hanging out over the pond.
Like a good model he showed off his other side.
Then I waited for him to do something else, maybe drop to the water to catch his dinner.
I guess he wasn’t hungry: these two steps were about the extent of it.
I saw a few Green Herons fly into a tree just off the canal where I was walking and I guess they saw me, too.
It was early and there wasn’t much light, but the classic Green Heron head crest was clearly outlined.
