It was a treat to see this Tricolored Heron fly by me rather slowly and in a straight line.
I more often see them in something of a panic mode, flapping and squawking.
The squawking can be fun to photograph but is often accompanied by erratic flying, which is not so easy to catch.
These were taken in early January when the marsh reeds and grass were just brown.
January 3, 2021
The low water in this section of a rice field pond had attracted a small flock of wading birds to feed in a channel.
As usual, one Snowy Egret was zipping around instead of feeding like the others.
He flew past a group of three…
kept on going…
Then dropped into a group of two.
It was a grey day with the Snowy Egrets’ feet and eye patches providing the only bit of color.
Tricolored Herons have an enthusiastic way of hunting, throwing their whole body into the effort.
This was a classic display, stretching out over the water, then pulling back to change the view.
Then nab!
As I’ve often seen, his catch was tiny, so you know he’ll need to keep at it.
Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons… not a great photo opportunity but a wonderful thing to see.
The small specs are Swallows; even smaller was the generous supply of mosquitoes and gnats.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, ACE Basin, SC
March 11, 2021
It was another one of those mornings when the sun stubbornly stayed behind a bank of low clouds.
So the light wasn’t great but I was surrounded by wading birds. This Tricolored Heron was working on acquiring breakfast.
Stealthily and slowly he worked his way into the open water.
And was rewarded with a very small morsel.
With spider webs all around lately I’ve wondered if birds can see or care about flying into them.
Some of the orb weavers spin strands that are stronger than I break walking into them. That’s a yuck for me. The Tricolored Heron didn’t seem to care.
The water level is too high and the banks are too steep most of the way around this pond for the wading birds to hunt. This clump of floating cattails made a good spot for a Tricolored Heron to reach the water.
Of course all he did was look while I was watching.
Tricolored Herons are some of the more exuberant wading birds when they are hunting.
No standing around staring at the water for them. Pacing back and forth, with quick u-turns, highlight their hunting method.
Throw in some low stealthy behavior…
ready to pounce …
It’s a lot of work and doesn’t always result in even a snack. At least while the photographer is watching.
A Tricolored Heron was plodding along a muddy bank, pausing for a moment to contemplate his options.
Turn and lift…
and he was gone.
February 11, 2020
Just a few feet away from the Mottled Ducks of my last post a Tricolored Heron was standing around.
He poked the water a few times and made some ripples but he didn’t seem to be actively fishing.
He settled in and I moved on.
A wider view of the pond and the wildlife:
Baily Tract, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 6, 2020
