OMG, I never saw a white heron before....C-girl, may I have your permission to put that on my pinterest page or do you have one on pinterest that I can pin? Jb
Scenes from the river....
You sure can do it, JB. But it's a Blue Heron, probably sunshine made it look lighter.
Yes, the shrub is a young red dogwood. Herons have a huge nesting spot here and arrive early when the pond is still icy. I cannot find my fav summer picture with daisies, have to look harder!
Very nice Maria! Great timing catching him catching the fish!
Thanks Karen, he did it so many times in front of my window that I had to catch him once! lol
OK, here is the link to my one board on Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/JBsPlants/i-am-really-for-the-birds/
Enjoy!
Now, C-gal, please give me your name and the place where the pictures were taken and I will add you to that board. This is such fun sharing all of these great shots. Thanks so much all of you who have shared the fun with me. JB
I love the combination of the light heron & the red shrub.
Oh wow JB, you did a great job over there, love it. Would be happy to see my pics there too, have to find some more! I'm Maria Skrypnyk, photo taken in my backyard in Akron, OH
Isn't a great thread? so glad you started it, Karen
OK Maria, your shots of the heron are up on the Pinterest link. Thanks so much for sharing. JB
Maria,
Where is your picture?
Lynn
JB, the pics look great on your page, even a little mistake in my last name couldn't spoil it, LOL
Thanks Maria.Love it!
Lynn
Maria, I found it and changed it. Sorry, I only have one eye and after a few hours online I have a problem with some letters. I wrote it down from your post and darn it I was not able to read my own writing. I took time for dinner and am back and fixed it. Now, please check it and tell me if it is correct. Sorry about that. I hate errors, I was raised in the Newspaper business and did so much proof reading you would think I could never make an error. HA....at 84 I am lucky I can even type. LOL
This message was edited Apr 6, 2013 6:04 PM
Not to worry JB, it was such a little thing. I'm blessed with the last name not everyone even tries to pronounce, lol. Thanks for correction though. And for adding to the Great Heron's glory, hehe
Karen, sorry for hijacking the thread, just couldn't help it!
Very nice job JB. I like Pinterest but haven't done much more than look around.
Very nice JB... I think it looks great! Thanks!
My pleasure, keep those pictures coming. It is like a SCRAPBOOK for me....I just love keeping pictures and going back and enjoying them. So, anytime you have one to share, I am here. Have a great day and keep your eyes on the skies and waters. JB
I'll share a favorite heron photo too... took this a few years back down on Sanibel Island, on FL's gulf coast. We're going back this spring, and I can't wait!
(JB, you're welcome to use it... you can tag it "Critterologist" or "Jill M Nicolaus" ... and thanks for being conscientious about keeping credit with images!)
Take a look at the link again. Just added Jill's heron. Come on ladies, send me more pictures of those beautiful birds. I see there are quite a few good looking shots from DG on Pintererst that people have repinned, but they do not say who owns them and I like to keep mine personal if possible. So, if you all do not mind, I would like to have pictures directly from the person who owns it. I do think people deserve the credit for those wonderful pictures. Thanks again for helping me build my board.
Here you go JB you might like these.
OK! OK! here is one from me---
Taken in Alaska where they filet the salmon as they catch it....
The Sea Gulls fight and devour--or just sit and wait their turn.
from Gita Veskimets--Homer, AK July, 2006.
The last 2 pictures is just for you to see what they are after--what a waste!
Many a good meal could be made from all this....
And, yes! They DO fight for all of it....
Great pictures Gita, will try and get them up on Pinterest later today. Have to ship plants and do errands this morning.
Holly, please identify those birds and tell me who took the pictures and where they were it taken. Love that face...lol....
Gita, your Gulls are up on Pinterest. JB
JB I took them Holly Sanders they were taken at Huntington Beach State Park in S.C. The face is a Brown Pelican the white bird is a Great Egret. Surprising how close they stand to those alligators.
Holly, your pictures are up on Pinterest at last. I have been so busy I just did not get back to it. Sorry. I can not find the two pictures that Jen took I wanted to add. Are they up on this thread on your screen? Maybe they are on the bird thread. I will look there. Later JB
A few from the river...
An Osprey comes out of the water after missing...
What???
The waiting game.... for them and me...
Still haven't seen one catching a fish!
patience both of you ☺
oooh more pictures for me to play with on Pinterest. Later today hopefully. Beautiful birds.
VA WildRose I'm wondering whether you are ableto recognize some of your river bird friends by now? How many years has this shad run birders delight been a part of your yearly ritual?
I've begun to wonder about the baby Herons. What time of year do they start to fish? Or, whatever you can tell me about Heron life! From how far away do all those birds come? And do they all stay along the Rappahonock some where? Do they stay there all day in the river while shad are running or are some times of the day busier than others? Do they fish in the rain? Do they use their wings for balance as they walk over the rocks, etc? How big are shad? Do they catch more. lose more or break even? I just love imagining myself there!
Judy...
I cannot recognize certain birds from year to year. In regards to Osprey, they mate for life, and in some cases people do recognize the same pairs returning year after year to the same nest. A nest along the Potomac in Alexandria, VA... Have been named Ma and Pops, and it is the same two birds that have been nesting there at least six years. This is overcoming extreme hardships to accomplish! When the Osprey leave in mid-August to migrate south, they do no leave together. They lead separate lives for 4-6 months as they fly to northern South America... anywhere from Colombia to Brazil. Then in February, they return to their breeding territories, and reunite! Osprey that have been fitted with tracking devices to monitor their migrations are frequently lost during the migratory flights. That is a hard journey! So for the same pair to return year after year to be reunited for a breeding season is an incredible feat!
Palmer and I have not found that any Osprey nest in Fredericksburg. They simply hang out for the food! LOL! There are nesting pairs further down river, with a great number of nests in Colonial Beach. We search every Spring for at least one nest to follow and photograph the raising of chicks! Osprey are amazingly devoted and gentle parents! We have found the nest we will be watching this year! The female is currently sitting on eggs, so there is not much to see. If she successfully hatches her chicks, then we will visit regularly to monitor the chicks as they grow!
As for the herons, they do not nest in Fredericksburg either. They are however, coming to the river to feed and to feed their young at their nesting sight a little more than six miles away "as the heron flies". There is a large GBH rookery at Crow's Nest, a natural area in Stafford County... and it has been determined that the parents do in fact fly back and forth from the river to feed their young! A recent article in the Free-Lance Star talked about the herons fishing in the river.... http://news.fredericksburg.com/features/2013/04/07/herons-enjoying-their-annual-herring-feast/
We have had a chilly Spring so far, and I have been so busy with work that I have not been down to the river nearly as much as I want! I am off this week though and I am hoping to spend at least a couple of evenings there!
Thanks for all the support and comments!
Karen
Some info and pics here:
http://www.nps.gov/cuva/naturescience/greatblueherons.htm. Click the links provided. We often visit one of the heronries mentioned, I have to find some pics of their nesting, you'd love it!
Here is another link
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/6648/Default.aspx
Today was a GREAT day at the river!
Have I got a treat for you all!
Patience pays off...
One hour of time...
Six herons... six fish...
The perfect moment captured... PRICELESS!
Herons...
Party of seven!
Herons...
Party of six!
Heron #1...
Fish #1...
Heron #2...
Fish #2...
Sometimes, all you get to do is watch...
Today was a day for herons...
But even the Osprey got lucky!
