GREAT BLUE HERONS
Great Blue Herons are everywhere. They are the largest of the herons in Florida. I am not sure if there are more great blues or more of the smaller tri-coloured herons.
There always seems to be a few in flight.
There were a good number of pairs in the process of bringing sticks to build nests or already on eggs.
But territorial "discussions" were still taking place.
Great blues always catch the big ones it seems
Took over 30 minutes to manage to swallow this catfish
Getting wrapped up in your work (Greater siren salamander)
TRI-COLOURED HERONS
Tri-coloured herons are smaller than the great blue heron, but seem to be everywhere.
Sure looks like a bad hair day when they shake out their feathers
They fly low over the water and will snatch a small fish on the fly.
Just because the lighting was nice....
LITTLE BLUE HERONS
Little blues certainly live up to their names. They are smaller than the tri-coloureds, but can be up to 30" (75cm) tall.
The juveniles are pure white with greenish legs. This one is just starting to show signs of turning blue.
GREEN HERONS
Green herons don't show a lot of green colouration, more a reddish brown...
Normally looking somewhat short and stockish, they can extend their neck quite a bit.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS
The bright red eye and long white "tail" head feather are two giveaways for the night-crowned black heron.
When their pupil is not fully open, the red does not show as much.
They aren't as common as the other herons, but we had some good views of them.
Another case of the juvenile being very different from the adults. Two of three juveniles in a nest at the Seaside Seabird Recovery Centre.
