We were both startled and I expected the Yellow-crowned Night-heron to fly.
Instead, he continued his walk through some grass.
He wandered to the retaining wall at the edge of the pond.
I watched a few minutes then went on my way as it was too hot for me to stand out in the sun.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2025
A Yellow-crowned Night-heron picked up and rejected a number of possible twigs for nesting material and spent some time just looking around.
Finally, the right stick was located…
and away he went.
I don’t normally include humans, but that’s my husband, Ted (tpjphoto.com), not getting an image of this flight. The photo also give you an idea of the rookery location and density, with the boardwalk running through the woods.
The heron continued on towards his nest, somewhere up in the trees.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
May 7, 2025
Correction March 28, 2026
I had these photos and post erroneously labeled as Black-crowned Night-heron.
The trees surrounding the Yellow-crowned Night-heron nesting area at Cypress Wetlands had filled in considerably in the two weeks since our previous visit.
I got a few glimpses of some mating behavior….
…but mostly it was butt end views.
Dangling Spanish Moss and a little breeze added to the sight line interference, but create some drama.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
April 10, 2025
We made our first trip to the rookery at Cypress Wetlands in late March. The Yellow-crowned Night-herons had just arrived that week according to some locals I chatted with.
The birds had gone right to work picking nest sites in the same nesting area they have used in previous years.
Fortunately for the bird watcher the trees were just starting to put out needles and leaves.
They also took some time to show off, hoping to attract the best mate.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
March 25, 2025
The Yellow-crowned Night-herons nest in a separate area of the rookery than the other nesting birds I’ve recently featured. Their nests are higher off the ground in a wooded area at the far end of the big pond. This year the nests are all facing away from the boardwalk that passes below them.
Above was the best capture I got of any chicks. The second adult then arrived at the nest.
The pair had some communication and interestingly the chicks didn’t seem to notice.
With other wading birds I have observed the return of one of the adults means feeding time and the chicks aren’t shy about getting a share.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
May 30, 2024
A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron showing off his fancy breeding season rump feathers while he was preening.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
April 5, 2024
One Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was busy selecting sticks for nest building.
It was a short hop across the boardwalk where I was standing to the rookery.
He was checking the route…
Finally he launched…
I couldn’t see where he landed–there were several pairs with robust looking nests and lots of single birds hanging around.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
March 29, 2024
The rookery area that the Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have chosen at Cypress Wetlands is dense, hanging with vines and Spanish Moss, and the trees are rapidly leafing out, impeding the view of those passing by.
So these action shots of a little territory set-to only features one of the players, the heron that was first on the limb.
The arriving heron remained blocked from my view…
and in the end, the interloper moved on.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
April 5, 2024
A Yellow-crowned Night-heron, just standing around at the edge of the swamp
Audubon Center at Beidler Forest, Harleyville, SC
March 19, 2023
Are you…
looking at me?
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023
