Or more importantly, follow lunch. The wading birds in the rear often reap the benefits of a meal stirred up by those in the lead.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
August 29, 2021
Follow The Leader
Tag Archives: Little Blue Heron
Juvenile Herons Hanging Around
Breeding season is over but a few of this year’s young are still hanging around the rookery. I saw this young Great Blue Heron displaying the classic GBH patience. He was staring at the water when I went by, and twenty minutes later when I returned he was in the same spot.
Little Blue Herons are born white then slowly transition to all blue in their second year. This youngster took a spot surveying the pond, looking a little unsure of what to do next. Some of the LBH adults are still in the area, but no longer supply food.
Little Blue Heron Silhouette
A Little Blue Heron with wind-blown feathers perched on a snag overlooking the rookery at Okefenokee Swamp.
April 28, 2021
Little Blue Heron, Nesting Material Workout
This Little Blue Heron was working really hard to separate a twig from a vine tangle.
And not having much success.
Hmm, maybe we need another plan.
Plan B was also not successful.
Oh, did you see that?
Wordless Wednesday: From the Swamp
Edge of a Rookery, Okefenokee Swamp, April 28, 2021
Little Blue Heron Getting Ready for the Day
A Little Blue Heron was looking around the swamp first thing in the morning.
Then he ruffled himself up…
… and shook himself out.
Now, ready to roll!
Little Blue Heron in the Green
Little Blue Herons don’t care if they can’t see into the water where they hunt.
This one was poking along; if he got something to eat it was very tiny.
Little Blue Heron
A Little Blue Heron perched above the pond on an on an outstretched branch that shows signs of spring.
Little Blue Heron, Frog Snack
I came upon this Little Blue Heron inspecting the fluted trunk of a Cypress Tree.
Ah, a small frog snack.
In typical heron fashion the bird carried his prey around, squeezing tight.
Then, one gulp and it was gone.
Little Blue Heron Fishing
Back and forth, this Little Blue Heron was working the perimeter of a small pond.
We’ve had a tremendous amount of rain the last ten days and water is pushing up and even overflowing many pond edges, giving these birds the shallow water they prefer for hunting.
Add that it was a bit warmer and thousands of minnows were zooming around in the water and the Little Blue had a great hunting ground. Even with all that bounty he was slow and methodical, sticking to his process.
Success!
