Final Green Heron Photos and Mississippi Kites Versus Northern Mockingbird

                                                           Green Heron 2 out of 3
                                                       

081119

0730-0811/81-82 F/heat index 87 F/partly cloudy/SE-6/75-7 % RH/29.89-29.91 Hg and rising

Clutch 3 Green Herons are growing well and are flighted.  Their fledging has been rapid, considering that they were in the shaded area of the northeast segment of Heron Cove.

                                                              Green Heron 1 of 3
                                                 

   
                                                         Green Heron 2 and 3 of 3

                                                               Solitary Sandpiper

081219

0722-0902/82-88 F/heat index 91 F/clear/SSW-10/67-62% RH/29.82-29.79 Hg and steady

Daily photos of young Green Herons will show their rapid growth while flight gets stronger.
The Solitary Sandpiper was located at Veteran's Memorial jetty on the north side.  They usually prefer
to be on fresh water mudflats, edges of brushy ponds or ditches, and even on fields with shallow water.  This behavior is slightly out of character, yet they commonly come to Boomer Lake area during fall migration.

                                                     2 out of 3 Green Heron Fledglings


081419

0727-0904/77-80 F/variable clouds/NW-7/74-72% RH/30.01-30.05 Hg and rising

Every day a few more downy feathers disappear from the Green Heron heads.

                                                Mississippi Kite Vocalizing to Comrades
                                                  Hunting Area Insects Like Dragonflies
                                                                     and Cicadas

081719

0720-0938/82-89 F/heat index 92/var. clouds to partly cloudy/ESE-10/66-61% RH/29.84-29.89 Hg and rising

                                                           Mississippi Kite (In Tree)
                                                       Northern Mockingbird (In Air)

                                                                 Ditto, View 2

                                                                Mississippi Kite


081819

1040-1202/73-85 F/partly cloudy/S-12/80-74% RH/29.84-29.89 Hg and rising

Writer was out at 0720 and rain was imminent.  The furthest I got was to Heron Cove, which was well checked.  There were eight Yellow Warblers seen there, which is quite a bit for one area.  During the second excursion, no others were found and I went beyond the east side restrooms.

Highlights observed were the Mississippi Kites that were hawking insects from both the power poles and bald cypress trees.  The above kite had been harassed by a Northern Mockingbird, as this territory area is his.

Third shot of this kite showed it searching for larger insects like cicadas and dragonflies.  When the insects are captured, the kite rapidly pulls off a wing or two to keep them within grasp so they can be consumed on the wing.

081819 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/life-at-boomer-lake-finding-a-perfect-place-for-shorebirds/article_3ac52794-c06b-11e9-bcc0-a3bc5c3993b2.html

062319 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-looking-in-on-our-bird-families/article_620d652d-5e57-5566-ab5c-6c930d7dc05d.html

Green Heron Flight Control and Courtship Between Subadults

                                                           Male Green Heron Subadult

                                                             Male Subadult in Flight,
                                                                  Enroute to Female

                                                         Courtship Swaying, To and Fro

                                                                   Second Motion,
                                                             Male Courtship Display
                                                           

                                                            Bill Pointed Straight in Air

                                        Male Green Heron Approaches Nonchalant Female,
                                                                     To Win Her Over

                                                 Male on Right--How Can That Posture Be
                                                             Ignored?  Female (Left).  Note
                                                                      Both Head Crests.

                                                                   Female Wing Display

                                                                    Male Remains

                                                              Green Heron in Flight

                                                                         View 2

                                                                         View 3

                                                                  Subadult in Flight

                                                                            View 2

                                                     Green Heron Fledglings (Immature)

                                                                       View 2

                                                                          View 3

                                                                           View 4



061319

0655-0831/63-71 F/partly cloudy/SSE-1/71-66% RH/30.15 Hg and steady to 30.18 Hg and rising


The first nine photos are all segments of a Green Heron courtship (mating ritual).  Both birds paired and left to cement the deal.  Shortly later, both parties would be involved in nest building, and said nest was discovered on 062019 by writer.  Unknown if eggs will be viable at this time, but it is possible.

Several in flight photos are also shown, as are a few photos of clutch 1 fledglings, or immature Green Herons.

There is a nest 2, and no constant sitting by adult has been noticed since 061219.

Also on this date, a Painted Bunting was heard singing on Heron Cove.  A total of six adult or subadult Green Heron helpers have been working the young birds harder.  On this date, only two are fully flighted.  Adults/helpers forced the immatures to chase them in the nest tree for exercise prior to feeding them.

Young Green Heron Living

                                                                    First Real Flights

Closeup View

View 2

Return to Nest Tree

Balancing Act

                                                                            View 2

                                                                         View 3

Notice Colorful Flight Feathers on 

Immature Green Heron

Exercising Wings

                                                                         View 2

                                                                 Enjoying the Sun

                                                                   Watching the Sights

                                                        Learning How Others Get By

                                                                  All Views Covered

                                                                Rumblings of Hunger

                                                                  Three Out of Five

                                                                          View 2

                                                                        View 3

                                                              Time to Change Position

                                                                 Making the Hurdle

                                                                       View 2

                                                                 Three On a Match

                                                          Learning As Each Day Passes

                                                                   Balancing Act

                                                                    Almost Lost It

                                                                  Bill Greeting

                                                                    Wind and Balance

                                                              Watching For Family

                                                                      Exercising

                                                                         View 2

                                                                        View 3

                                                                  No Rest For the Active

                                                              Getting Ready For Flight

                                                                           View 2

                                                                 Where's the Fish?

                                                                 Dinner Will Be Served

                                                                         View 2

                                                                   What About Us?

                                                                       Here I Am

                                                              Taking Time to Stretch

       
                                                                      What Now?

                                                                    Big and Alert

                                                                    Cooler Venue

                                                                 What Was THAT?

                                                            Mallard Hen and Ducklings

                                                          Ducklings Experienced Fright

                                                                    Who's There?



061219

0715-0839/68-73 F/partly cloudy/W-11/75-71% RH/30.03-30.08 Hg and steady

The young are gaining strength and confidence, as can be seen in faster and more deliberate movement.  Flight is progressing well, but the youngest should be on their own more and seeing the world to make more discovery.  Since they can fly, they also need to be learning how to procure their own food.

These birds are very capable and require the chance to prove themselves in the world.

Nesting though, is imperative, since so much time was lost last year due to extreme heat.