Ocean City, NJ is a resort town in South Jersey on an island which can be reached via a causeway. Driving on the causeway, before arriving in Ocean City, there is a turn-off for a Welcome Center. From a sidewalk right next to the center, every Spring and Summer it is quite easy to take pictures of Herons, Ibises, Egrets, and many other birds that fly in from the South to breed and raise their chicks. The sidewalk is almost as tall as the rookery trees, so one can look down on their nests and watch activities from breeding to incubating and finally fledging just before the birds migrate South. The birds seemed unperturbed by all the human lookers and photographers.
I missed going there last year, and this year I only managed to get to the rookery this past weekend. It is late in the season, but I still saw a Yellow-crowned Night Heron nest with unhatched eggs. The tired-looking mother had just stood up to scratch herself.
After some more preening, she tidied up the nest.
Then she sat down and resumed incubating. The eggs should be hatching in a few more days.
Julie@frogpondfarm said:
Ah what a job! Our chickens incubate for 21 days, how long to the herons sit for?
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Julie, these herons sit for 24-25 days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
DG MARYOGA said:
Incredible bird watching in this wonderful location,Hien!You managed to take splendid photos of this tender mother and her nest.It’s a lovely bird,I liked the way she tidied up herself and then the nest.It’s a real joy to watch such scenes from the life of birds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Doda! It was very easy to look down on the nest from the sidewalk, and to click away. Some herons have their nests close to the ground while others prefer higher branches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
DG MARYOGA said:
Ideal vantage point for you,Hien.
LikeLiked by 1 person
bayphotosbydonna said:
Beautiful captures, Hien!
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Donna!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lignum Draco said:
Wonderful idea to have a rookery there. Great to support Nature.
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
The rookery came about naturally. The Ocean City Welcome Center was built around it and the birds keep coming back year after year.
LikeLike
Eliza Waters said:
Wonderful series, Hien. A view one rarely sees!
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Eliza!
LikeLike
lvandun said:
Real nice pictures Hien, it is always nice to browse through your work. Thx for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Ludo!
LikeLike
allentimphotos2 said:
Hien, these are really nice. Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Tim!
LikeLike
allentimphotos2 said:
You’re welcome
LikeLike
de Wets Wild said:
What a wonderful opportunity to photograph some seldomly seen behaviour, Hien, and you have done magnificently with your images!
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you so much Dries!
LikeLiked by 1 person
loisajay said:
Beautiful photos, Hien. Poor mother–she does look tired.
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Lois! She was tired, but the eggs must be almost ready to hatch.
LikeLike
dweezer19 said:
How sweet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
T Ibara Photo said:
What a tender series. Much respect to Mama Bird for caring for her eggs during what must be very hot weather. The welcome center sounds like a beautiful place. I hope there will be more opportunities for you to visit again!
LikeLiked by 2 people
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Takami! It is a beautiful place and a great one for bird photography.
LikeLiked by 1 person
quietsolopursuits said:
Great images of a species of bird that I have yet to see! It’s too bad that you haven’t had a chance to visit this place before now, I would love to see the images that you could shoot from there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
neihtn2012 said:
You would have a field day at this place! There were so many birds and you can shoot from up high, looking down or at the same level as they were, although a good long lens would be needed, probably a 600 mm. I only had a 400 mm lens.
LikeLiked by 1 person