We just can't figure out what kind of bird this is. Is it an immature blue heron, or a type of kingfisher? Sending a series of photos taken out in my backyard last Friday. Thursday was exceptionally windy. May have been blown off course. Hope my fellow DG'ers can help us out here.
Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf
#2 of 10.
#3 of 10. While this photo is slightly blurry, it is the only one I was able to take showing how the neck curves.
Black-crowned Night Heron
Resin
#4 out of 10. Here he is wading along the edge of my goldfish/turtle pond.
You are probably right Resin. It would please me a great deal if you are right. I'd win a bet with DH. LOL!
Let me finish posting photos, just in case.
#5 out of 10.
Yes, that is what I was going to say... but what tripped me up on it being a black-crowned night heron was that the wings are not as dark as usual... but otherwise it is a perfect match. I saw one fishing in the lake by my home the other day.
#6 out of 10. Here he is wading along the edge of the pond.
laynie, looks like I'm getting closer to winning that bet! LOL!
Just humor me with a couple more photos, he stayed the whole day, it was really quite amazing.
#7 out of 10. Rear view.
#8 out of 10.
#9 of 10. Here he is leaving the pond.
#10 of 10. Thank you for your patience. I knew that someone here would know. We just couldn't tell for sure.
Thank you too for allowing me to share the photos from that incredible day. This was my last view of him. He was gone the next day. Hopefully he found something to eat. Lots of pollywogs and some feeder fish as well as mosquito fish in there. He did seem kind of dazed. The wind the day before his visit was fierce.
Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf
Nice pics SingingWolf!
Definitely Black-crowned Night Heron, you win your bet ;-)
The grey back is because it is a subadult, probably 2 years old (a one-year old would be even greyer)
Resin
Thanks for clearing up the grey versus much darker wings Res!
Nice pictures SW!
Very nice pics....glad to see you here SingingWolf!
Thanks for all the help. Resin, I don't know how you did it. You rock! We were confused because of the coloration and the way he was holding his neck. He was a nice visitor to enjoy the day with.
I'll be back as soon as I get some more photos to share. It's hard to get good photos of birds with my point and click. I'm saving up to get a better camera.
Thanks for the comments, laynie, pelletory, and nanny_56.
I'm not up to my Dad's standard yet, but I'm practicing a lot. Actually, I find it is quite a stress reliever to go out and get photos of different things and experiment with different settings on my camera.
Thanks to all of you for your comments and your help.
WIB!
SW
Just like to keep you posted received another visit from this fellow. I don't know if he is lost or what. My goldfish are still there. He didn't stay long, he was perched on the fence.
On his last visit he seemed dazed. This time he just seemed wary, so I snuck closer.
This was my favorite photo of him. I'm glad to see he is managing so far inland. Hope he finds his way back to the coast soon.
He flew off soon after.
WIB,
SW
Nice series, Singingwolf, it's a beauty.
Such a great visitor to have SW! Congratulations!
Thanks. I hope I don't see him again and he finds his way home, but he is also welcome to come visit.
WIB.
SW
Night Herons aren't restricted to the coast, they're mainly freshwater birds - any streams, rivers, ponds, marshes will satisfy them. I'd not be surprised if they're touring round rich peoples' goldfish ponds at night ;-)
Resin
