Thursday, July 2, 2009

First Green Heron

Update: It appears that these birds are actually Black Crowned Night Herons. That's even better than Green Herons because this kind isn't as common here in Michigan.

I just found the most unusual big bird I've ever seen! Some of you may have seen these before, but I and many others have never seen anything like it before. I got a little better look at it than the camera did. From the information I've been given, this bird appears to be a Green Heron.

I was on my newly found boardwalk area, and while I was reaching the end of the path I saw this strange squat looking bird perched by itself at the edge of the tall weeds. It appeared to be about the same size as a goose, but it looked like an odd cross between a big heron and a penguin.

It didn't look like it was going to move, so I slowly prepared my camera to get a few good shots of it. Just as I was lifting the camera in its direction, it leaped into the air and flew away. I may have been slow a second before, but now I was much quicker with my camera ready in my hands.

As a result, I got a few good pictures of this bird in mid-flight. I thought it was gone forever, but it sudden;y veered towards the left and glided over to another perch on the other side of the walkway. I didn't run to get closer because of the snake I found on this boardwalk before. I didn't want to smush a poor defenseless little creature did I?

When I finally did carefully make it to a closer area on the boardwalk, I found the green heron perched on this new place in the middle of this man made pond. There was a special treat waiting there with it though. There was a second green heron waiting there for the first!

My pictures of these wonderful birds aren't the best, but you can certainly see them in there. And besides, this isn't so much about the pictures. It's about the adventure that I had. Every day is always a fun new adventure if we want it to be. This was just one of mine. Tell me some of yours.


Lastly, I'd like to thank everybody who commented on yesterday's Hiking Tips For Beginners post. I usually like to acknowledge each one of your comments individually, but this time I'm going to keep it short. I want to make that post a little different by keeping my clutter out of it. I just want to let you know that I've read every comment and they're all great.

I appreciate each and every one of your comments from the shortest to the longest. Every one of your hiking tips have been wonderful so far. Some of them are similar to others and that's exactly what I want. Telling the tips in your own words will help any beginners by giving them good thorough information.

As I said In yesterday's post, I put a link to the tips in the sidebar so it can be found easily. I also have a link there so you can add any more tips you can think of whenever you want. Your tips can be the same tip that someone else already left. A different point of view on something is always welcome. Thanks to you all! I'll have other posts like that one in the future.

15 comments:

  1. Hi Ratty, Great pictures! Isn't it just great when you spot something for the first time? I never even heard of green herons before, I'm glad you managed to get photos of them. Thanks for your comments on my blog by the way :)

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  2. You're lucky to see such beautiful bird, and took such great pictures!

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  3. wow, you got several pictures of them, there is even a picture with 2 of them, you are so lucky! i think i had seen it before but i did not know it's name, so good for you to find out the name. thanks for sharing. i also get very excited whenever i see birds when i'm out for a walk, sometimes, i am too late to take them picture, sometimes, i have no camera :( i just keep their sight in my memory :)

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  4. Your adventure does inspire me to move on further.. Great to learn from each other.

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  5. Wow, those photos were so cool. I've never seen a green heron before. What an incredible bird. Glad you venture out to take all these photos and I hope others will do so as well thanks to your tips.

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  6. Hey Ratty. Great pics. I've tagged you over on my blog

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  7. Hi

    I think your Heron is infact a Black Crowned Night Heron.

    Cheers
    Alan
    www.surfbirds.com/blog/falklandbirder

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  8. I have never heard of a green heron...how cool!
    The blue herons are one of my FAVORITE birds of all time...they are huge!!! I love the sandhill cranes and egrets too! Great shots Ratty!

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  9. I LOVE the green herons! I remember the first time I saw one... wow. And I don't have ANY pictures of one, so this is totally awesome.

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  10. Can i have a closer look? nice shots, Ratty!

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  11. Even if it is a Black Crowned Night Heron, which I have never heard of either, it is still a great find. To see either one and get photos is great. Great capture.

    SQ

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  12. Sounds awesome, Ratty. A green heron would be a first for me, too. They look beautiful.

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  13. I have not come across them before,either Ratty so thanks for the great pics.They beat the large Tarantula I have just had to remove from my lounge!

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  14. Well, I think Alan might be right... a juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron- it doesn't seem to have the right adult colors yet. But I looked at the choices in the National Geographic bird guide, and it matches- especially the feet and sitting so upright. That is really interesting. I have never seen one of those in MI (I have in Maine and ND), but the range map says it's possible. This is a real find, Ratty!

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  15. It appears that these birds are actually Black Crowned Night Herons. That's even better than Green Herons because this kind isn't as common here in Michigan.


    Bemused - Seeing something for the first time always seems like the best. I only heard of them recently, and these are the first I've seen, but I'm finding out that maybe they're another kind of heron.
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    Icy - You're right, it was an extreme stroke of luck. Maybe luckier than I thought.
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    Betchai - I just wish a few of the pictures were a little better. I guess I shouldn't be greedy though. I hope I see birds like this again. I get excited every time I see birds too, especially a new one.
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    Rainfield - It's great to learn from you too. You are one of my main teachers.
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    Mountain Woman - I'm glad I got to see these birds. It's a fun little nature preserve, but the parking there is horrible.
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    Wiggy - Thanks. I'll check it out right after I'm done here. :)
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    Alan - I think you are right. I don't know much about birds, and the green heron was the closest I could find. I knew they were common here. I've never heard of a Black Crowned Night Heron before, so this is even more exciting. Thanks!
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    The Retired One - I love the blue herons too. I hope to get some photos that might be almost as good as some you have.
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    Sharkbytes - I'm glad to add these birds to my collection. I got lucky to get pictures the first time.
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    Vanilla - I hope to see these birds again. Then I will definitely give you a closer look.
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    SquirrelQueen - A Black Crowned Night Heron might be even better than a green heron. This is the first I've heard of this new kind.
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    Rene - Yeah, these birds are very beautiful. I think they're kind of goofy looking too. That makes it extra fun. :)
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    Glynis - A tarantula would not be fun at all. I'm glad it's over, and I'm really glad I didn't have to do it.
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    Sharkbytes - I think I agree. The colors and the look match up a lot better. This does make it even more exciting. Now I'll have to go back to see if I can get some even better pictures.

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