A Little Blue Heron looking more like a Little Purple Heron in the bright sun. We are starting to see more Little Blues around but I haven’t spotted any nesting yet.
Photo taken 3/13/2018.
Little Blue Heron
Tag Archives: Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron Lunching
There is a small pond in some woods beyond the Heron rookery that I check on once in awhile.
The vegetation has been too high around it to see much lately, but a few days ago I strolled over to discover that the edges have been cleared, giving a nice view into the water.
This Little Blue Heron was the only bird I saw, and he was cleaning up on little salamanders or something similar.
Down in one gulp, and then inching ahead he seemed quite content.
Little Blue Heron Passing By
The Alligator never moved.
These were taken January 9th, at the end of a week when we had extreme cold for South Carolina and six inches of snow. Alligators slow their metabolic activity when it gets cold and all they need is to breathe.
The Little Blue Heron waded the entire length of the Alligator, poking in the water as he went, perhaps not even recognizing the gator was there.
Little Blue Heron Studying
This Little Blue Heron was very intent on looking in the water for food along the edge of the canal. He had a small white patch on his chest that stands out like a badge, likely the final remnant of his juvenile coloration.
Waiting and watching, the Little Blues are a study in patience.
He probed the water a couple of times but I didn’t see him catch anything.
After awhile he moved a little deeper into the water. He eventually turned his back on me and I moved on.
Early Morning Walk
These three Wood Storks were just standing around in the shallow end of the pond.
Two decided to relocate on foot, further away of course. They weren’t moving fast but it was less than a minute before they were beyond camera range.
A Little Blue Heron tagged along. The smaller birds often follow the larger ones, hoping to share good feeding spots.
Click any photo for larger view.
Splish Splash
It’s always a surprise to see a wading bird in the water with their body in. This Little Blue Heron was taking a prolonged bath in water that was a bit murky.
He stood in one spot having a soak for at least ten minutes. I’m not sure if those bubbles were from his splashing that I missed or something else was in the water.
Then the action started:
Bathing can be hard on your coiffure.
Finally hopping out of the water for a big shake.
And another:
Then a peaceful rest at the edge of his personal bath tub.
Immature Little Blue Heron
Dwarfed by the reeds and grasses growing at the edge of the marsh this immature Little Blue Heron squawked his way to a landing then seemed unsure what to do.
His mottled coloration made him stand out nicely from the green background as he took a stroll along the irrigation canal bordering the marsh.
Click on either photo for larger view.
Juvenile Little Blue Heron Portraits
Here is a selection of juvenile Little Blue Heron portraits with nature provided backgrounds. You can just start to see some color in the tips of the tail feathers.
The pin head feathers aren’t as prominent as the chicks get older, although in the right light and humidity conditions they still stand up.
I liked the way the pine branched framed the back of this one and was wishing I was a foot or so taller to line it up better.
Click on any photo for larger view.
Little Blue Heron Flight School
Adult Little Blue Herons teach their young to fly by encouraging them, sometimes with food, out to the end of a branch. The adult then takes off, hoping the juvenile will follow.
Although the juveniles have been venturing onto the branches for a couple of weeks, In the beginning actually lifting off is a tough sell.
Many of the families have three or four chicks and the sibling competition seems to spur them on. This fellow appeared to be an only child, or maybe the others have already moved on.
“I don’t know if I can do this!”
Success! It was a short hop but he made it and landed successfully.
Juvenile Little Blue Herons
The juvenile Little Blue Herons are spreading out away from their nests and just when one thinks he has found his own piece of paradise he gets company.
These sticks are from a dead branch that fell in a storm earlier this summer and it makes an easy landing spot for the young birds. Unfortunately it provides no protection from alligators that could easily lurch out of the water and snatch one of them.
This section of the pond is choked with duckweed and the alligators travel easily unseen beneath it. Even if they do see a predator the herons rarely take evasive action.
There are no ducks around to eat the duckweed right now and the conditions seem to be perfect for it to thrive, making for very green photographs.
