Bird Searching
Green Heron
This weekend we made some time searching for some birdies! The Osprey continued hanging out around the Osprey platform as many small warblers were peeping along tree tops among the leaves. Cedar Waxwings appeared to be everywhere but it was this Green Heron who really allowed us to get the closest to it.
It was quite entertaining along the waters edge where this guy appeared to have been picking at some grasshoppers. I followed it for almost 10 minutes as this Green Heron would slowly walk away when I would get a little too close. I only wish that I had better lighting to capture the most perfect shot.
Quaker Lake
Near sunset we came across this Double-crested Cormorant sitting up in the tree. We stopped to check out the bird with our binoculars as a second bird attempted to land on these small twigs near the perched individual. The cormorant’s branches broke as it landed and fell almost 30 feet straight down into the water with a huge splash. Seconds later a third bird attempted to do the same thing and so clumsy with its landing this bird also crashed into the water. We were watching these two birds swimming in the water as we had a handful of people laughing hysterically in the vehicle.
The Double-crested Cormorants
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Great shots Tom, my bird photography usually consists of the tail feathers as they fly away, I really do like the first Green Heron.
6 September 2007 at 9:04 pm
Excellent green heron. We saw several in South Carolina this summer. You remind me I have to post about that. It sounds like you enjoyed your weekend.
6 September 2007 at 9:19 pm
Quaker Lake sounds like a great place to go birding! I love the Green Heron photo, with those feathers sticking up like that! Fall (like spring, summer, and winter) is a great time of year for birding!
6 September 2007 at 9:26 pm
Nice to see you take a break from banding to do some birding-that top pic is really nice and sharp!
Quaker Lake looks very peaceful.-nice view.
6 September 2007 at 9:56 pm
you always have fun and loved hearing about the cormorants
6 September 2007 at 10:07 pm
I guess cormorants are graceful in the water but not so graceful on land. At least they look as if they were none the worse for wear.
6 September 2007 at 10:09 pm
I love the picture of that heron.
6 September 2007 at 10:18 pm
@ Bernie – thanks and many times mine do also! Thanks
@ Trixie – thanks and that’s probably the closest I have ever gotten to one!
@ Veery – It can be at times! It is a great time of the year for sure!
@ Larry – Owl banding starts at the end of the month! So, I better get my birding in now!
@ Rick – thanks and was fun for sure watching them!
@ John – it was soo funny watching them! We couldn’t help but laugh!
@ Barb – thanks!
6 September 2007 at 11:00 pm
Too funny. That Green Heron looks like he got a really bad haircut! And, I love the story of the klutzy cormorants!
7 September 2007 at 12:11 am
Wonderful shot of the Green Heron. I have never seen one. Beautiful, peaceful lake.
7 September 2007 at 6:30 am
That little green heron is just too darn cute.
7 September 2007 at 7:16 am
Nice pics Tom! The Green Heron appears to be a Juvenal by the looks of all that Fluff sticking out on it. This maybe why it wasn’t afraid as it is Immature and has developed a Fear of Humans yet!
7 September 2007 at 7:26 am
Love the green heron. I’m heading to Flickr to fave that one!
7 September 2007 at 9:52 am
Great picture of the green heron. This makes me want to go out birding.
7 September 2007 at 10:04 am
Love the heron photo…is it a young one? Just wondered because it looks sort of downy.
7 September 2007 at 11:38 am
Cool green heron!! Poor double-crested cormorants! What’s up with them not being able to fly out of the situation instead of crashing into the water?
7 September 2007 at 3:54 pm
Yeah, same question as Pam – couldn’t the cormorants flap a bit to prevent the dunking? You don’t often get to witness that kind of klutziness in the bird world.
7 September 2007 at 6:13 pm
@ Liz – thanks and it is a cutie!
@ Jayne – thanks and it is a great place!
@ Toni – it was fun watching also!
@ Garth – I soo agree and your probably right about no fear yet!
@ Mary – thanks!
@ Joan – thanks and I always want to be out their birding!
@ threecollie – I wouldn’t be surprised if it was!
@ Pam and Cathy – Let me just say that Cormorants need to run on top of the water in order to take flight. Not all birds have the muscles to just fly at whim! Although, my guess is that these guys were expert splashers! They did it with style!
7 September 2007 at 9:00 pm
Oh just missed your answers ;D I love the Green Heron-he kinda has a punky looking happening.
Cormorants are neat-so sleek-and that’s quite the mysterious shot you got there!
7 September 2007 at 9:07 pm