In a post yesterday I mentioned the ‘magenta’ spring colors of these birds. I neglected to point out how their bill turns a vivid light blue. It is a bit strange, but the color combo works well.
Little Blue Looking His Best
Category Archives: Heron
Dancing Little Blue
Little Blue Herons don’t have the sophisticated dance moves of a Great Egret, or long bridal feathers for that matter.
Come mating season what they do have is ‘Magenta’. Great colors on these small Herons.
Hunting Green Heron
Green Herons are always so intense looking. You can never tell if they are just walking by, or spotted the best fish in the whole world.
Outside the rookery on Magnolia Plantation grounds.
Early Swamp Photo – Monochrome
A strange crop here, the right side had a tree trunk in my face.
Taken early and a certain large, scaly, reptile was in my spot. And was uncharacterizable stubborn about the whole thing.
Mom on the left, the youngsters on the right.
Getting Big, Young Great Blue Herons
Soon these two will be taking a few test flights.
Large chicks.
Tricolor
The Tricolored Herons are one of my spring favorites. Probably the prettiest Heron anytime, but come breeding season there is nothing subtle about them.
This bird was sitting in a ‘hole’ in the thickets, preening and showing off a bit.
Small Heron Collection
This is an example of a pretty good, and busy, morning. These were all taken in the same general area / rookery. Different species, even different environments, but a short ‘throw’ from each other with fishing / stick gathering together.
First a Little Blue Heron in the main rookery area. However they were not nest building. Maybe I just didn’t notice because they should have been.
Next, Yellow-crowned Night Herons. These birds stay away from the open rookery areas. They prefer thicker trees, or wood lines. A short walk to see them. By short I mean maybe 200 yards LOL. Just as long as there are some woods the Yellow-crowns are happy.
And next the other Night Heron. Below is a Black-crowned Night Heron carrying nesting materials. They were nesting in yet again a separate area. Close to the action, but some woods and marsh.
Last here is the Green heron. All the rookeries we visit are filled with them now. A late nester though compared to all the other wading birds. They were just hanging around, fishing and enjoying the chaos.
These photographs were taken on a morning two weeks ago in or around the Port Royal, South Carolina, rookery. This is a place we visit on a regular basis.
Tricolors House Hunting
Below two Tricolored Herons were wandering around in the under brush. Others were all around, some nesting already. Considering the flimsy nests they build most any spot there will work.
