Monday, June 24, 2013

Juvenile Green Heron licking his chops...

This juvenile Green Heron was fun to watch. He would move slowly back and forth along a downed branch that hung over the mote at the Ibis Pond rookery on Pinckney Island in Hilton Head, SC looking for small fish. As he watched for his next morsel, he would lick his chops over and over. Those little fish must have tasted good! The video at the end of the post captures the action...

Juvenile Green Heron at the Ibis Pond Rookery on Pinckney Island in Hilton Head, SC
A juvenile Green Heron sees a fish swimming in the green waters below...

Juvenile Green Heron at the Ibis Pond Rookery on Pinckney Island in Hilton Head, SC
Baby plumes blowing in the breeze. Not many left...

Green Herons are stocky little herons. They always seem to have their necks pulled in.


Juvenile Green Heron watches a fish and gets ready to catch it.
...part of the fun of watching this juvenile Green Heron was watching his long toes curl around the branch as he walked slowly back and forth. Every move he made seemed to be deliberate, stealthy, and slow. 


"Bird's eye" view of this juvenile Green Heron as he watches fish swimming below.
...watch out, little fish.


Juvenile Green Heron Licking his Chops and Catching a Fish from Kelly Riccetti on Vimeo.


 I photographed this hungry little fellow last summer on June 12, 2012.
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17 comments:

  1. eileeninmdJune 24, 2013 at 5:15 AM

    Love the Green Heron, it is my favorite heron. Your photos and video are wonderful.

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  2. FABJune 24, 2013 at 7:01 AM

    Smashing pics Kelly and I just loved the video clip. Such careful maneuvering along the branch while concentrating on its prey.

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  3. holdingmomentsJune 24, 2013 at 7:09 AM

    Fantastic pictures Kelly, and that video was excellent. Great post.

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  4. TexWisGirlJune 24, 2013 at 8:58 AM

    he is really cute. your photos are stellar, and enjoyed his catch in the video, too!

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  5. ChrisJune 24, 2013 at 11:54 AM

    Wow, what a wonderful psot Kelly... I'm terribly jealous of these wonderful shots ;-)

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  6. Lois EvensenJune 24, 2013 at 2:25 PM

    Fabulous images as yours always are. Love the video!

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  7. AnonymousJune 24, 2013 at 3:42 PM

    Great detail in the poses! They can sometimes be skittish.

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  8. MontanagirlJune 24, 2013 at 4:40 PM

    Kelly, these are really nice photos. LOVED the video. Wish we had Green Herons around here.

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  9. UnknownJune 24, 2013 at 5:30 PM

    Wonderful images Kelly.

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  10. Janice KJune 24, 2013 at 5:31 PM

    I loved the pictures, Kelly, and the video was really fun to watch. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. ElaineJune 25, 2013 at 5:30 AM

    I love this guy! Great photos!

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  12. Elva PaulsonJune 26, 2013 at 12:49 PM

    Wonderful photos and video, Kelly! I love how they can wrap their toes around the branch and lean way, way forward. It always amazes me.

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  13. Pasadena AdjacentJune 26, 2013 at 4:36 PM

    fantastic - guess he/she's a big bird now

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  14. Banjo52June 28, 2013 at 9:59 PM

    Great shots. A couple of years ago at Ding Darling on Sanibel Island, I watched one of these juveniles (I think it was this guy) who'd caught a fish too big for one gulp, and the heron kept playing with it for at least a half-hour. He never did get it all down as I watched--maybe after I left. Can a bird look puzzled and frustrated? I'd swear he did.

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  15. AnonymousJune 29, 2013 at 6:09 PM

    What fun!

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  16. KellyJuly 7, 2013 at 10:34 PM

    Thanks, everyone. This guy was fantastic! I watched him for so long. He always caught his fish...

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  17. KaHollyJuly 16, 2013 at 6:20 AM

    Loved the video and all of the pics.

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