This is the Little Blue Herons time to shine. The bigger birds are first to breed, now the smaller ones set up house.
The bird above clearly shows the breeding colors of his face and crown. That striking blue beak will fade in a month or so.
The bird above displays the same markings. Both were photographed in the same general area, a small rookery.
And just to confuse everything a juvenile from last year returned. Still the juvenile white color but there is a change starting in some feathers. The bird is too young to mate but I have been told he did build a nest.
Note: The bird in the first image here is actually a Tricolored Heron. Opps.
These are wonderful shots and you have to admire the optimism of the juvenileš
And sometimes that works. I was told in a message last night (a photographer from North Carolina) the juvenile was sitting on eggs. How? Blind faith.