Before the Green Heron from my post On The Hunt found a hunting spot he posed on a limb from a falen tree sticking out of the pond. There was a light breeze and the water was creating a
Green Herons tend to be shy and I expected him to take off any moment.
From that stubby perch he surprised me and flew to a spot a bit closer to shore where he showed off his goofy head feathers and long beak.
A slow and methodical hunt was in progress.
A Green Heron was wading in water up to his chest, bent over in the stalking position, stretching out his neck.
Bam!
The snack he captured was so tiny, I wonder if it was worth all that time and effort.
The Green Heron from Saturday’s post fished awhile then took off for more private quarters.
He wasn’t going very fast and he rounded the tree that up until a month ago was full of juvenile Great Egrets.
Green Herons are generally shy, and as expected he landed in a spot that was partly shielded from my view, which he had all to himself.
We’ve had a tremendous amount of rain over the last month and the ponds are all full making wading for the short birds a little harder. A few trees have fallen into the water giving the Green Herons some nice hunting perches.
This Heron was trying to figure out to get down closer to the water, strutting along with great deliberation.
His strut gave me some nice views and when he actually got down to the water there were too many branches to get a shot.
Slowly, slowly a Green Heron inched along a log and finally moved into a small patch of sun for a well lit photograph.
Herons are known for their patient hunting and this one had the routine down.
With less patience than the Green Heron I put my camera down when he stood up a bit thinking he had given up on whatever he was stalking. I should have stuck with it another 20 seconds.
Bam, a large frog became lunch but was not to be photographed as heron with frog disappeared into the dark underbrush.
This juvenile Green Heron was just sitting in the water. He eventually splashed a little, but he seemed content just to be wet on this hot June day.
This pool is part of a pond / fountain system of moving water in a Charleston city park. This tree is at the edge of a small island in the pond that houses a Green Heron rookery. The water is cloudy so you can’t see bottom to tell what color it might be painted but may be the cause of the odd color.
The heron eventually climbed out of the water and shook off before settling down in the shade.
Sony Alpha-6500, Sony 55-210 MM lens
It was a treat to see this Green Heron out in the open doing his exercise routine. Usually a bit shy, I more often see them tucked into some underbrush.
He was working his wings when I first spotted him then he moved on to his neck.
I thought we was going to plunge into the pond below, perhaps for a snakc. But he returned upright, leaving fishing for another time.
On a limb dangling over the water this Green Heron was intent on his mission.
Slowly he inched his way to the end of the branch.
And leaned, and stretched, undisturbed by the passing dragon fly.
The branch bobbed under his weight and over he went.
He was after a stick for his nest, or at least that is what he came back with.
Water flow between impoundments at Black Point Wildlife Drive is controlled by culverts and some birds take advantage of the man-made waterflow to find food.
This Green Heron appeared to be defying gravity as he leaned over for a peak,
pulled back up,
then finally took the plunge.
Through this exercise his feet hardly moved despite the algae covered cement he was perched on.
For a very small reward:
Click on any photo for larger view.
An adult Green Heron looks out over the marsh from an open vantage point.
Around this marsh it has been my experience to see the Green Herons only after they have taken off from within a clump of trees. AKA “bird butt” photographs.
