Last weekend, at the Edwin B Forsythe Wildlife Refuge, when I first saw this juvenile blue heron, it had just caught a fish and was going back to the bank of the marshes to eat it.
Juvenile blue heron with fish caught in bill
By the time it turned around, the fish was gone, swallowed in its entirety. The heron preened itself smugly, then bent forward as if seeing some other meal swimming by.
Juvenile blue heron
Nothing! The bird walked away to another spot, near two humans who were also fishing with their poles and lines, and a small boat.
Juvenile blue heron walking away
It was low tide, and water was rushing out of the marshes into the ocean.
Water rushing out of the marshes at low tide
Once every few minutes, I could hear fish jumping into the air and falling back into the receding water.
Suddenly the heron dove in head first.
Juvenile blue heron diving after fish
and came up with nothing! It did not give up though and resolutely struck a pose.
Juvenile blue heron ready to strike
Soon enough, it caught another one.
Caught another one!
During the 15 minutes I spent observing and photographing it, this heron caught three fishes. The two humans caught zero during that same time.
Beautiful, the lighting is stunning!
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Thank you, Indah. Late afternoon light is usually fabulous.
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Perseverance pays off. In his case, anyway.
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Thanks, Pat. Perseverance does pay off, except for some fishermen. I used to go fishing many years ago and often had nothing to bring home after a day spent at the shore or on a boat.
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Hiền, not only a patient photographer, you are also a good humor story teller .
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Thank you Anh Nhi. You should have been there and would have had a good time seeing those two men struggling with their fishing equipment, while the heron kept catching fish.
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Herons have insatiable appetites, I don’t know where they put all the fish that they swallow. Nice job catching the heron in action!
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Thanks for visiting and commenting. Apparently, that heron had its fill after three fishes, or maybe it got tired of seeing me photographing it. It took off after swallowing the third one, had a leisurely low flight and landed about 100 yards away, ready to go fishing again perhaps.
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Well, after all, Hien – the heron could see what it was going for. [grin]
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Thanks M-R!
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What a thrill to capture the actions! The last one is a cool shot 🙂
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Thanks, Amy. That last one was an action shot that I almost missed as that heron was really quick.
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What fabulous captures of the heron and such amazing reflections from the light on the water. Lovely!
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Thank you Sue!
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