Little Blue Heron

Activity has returned to my thistle bird feeder this week. I've noticed mostly gold finches and a few sparrows. They have been absent since the first of the year.

The return of the finches reminded me of the herons at the golf course. There were two last summer that liked to hang out around the creek and the big pond. Sometimes when I got too close they would fly out of the creek unexpectedly and get my attention real fast. The one below was pretty calm around people and my very loud mower. He would let you get pretty close.

Sometimes I seem them sitting in the top of trees. It seems strange to such a big bird sitting on such small branches.

I like to watch them hunt for lunch (takes very little to amuse me). When they are hungry for fish they stand near shore and pull their heads back. When an unsuspecting fish swims by, they quickly grab it and fly away. That long neck is like a coiled spring being released.

I'm not sure of the exact kind of heron or egret he is. He doesn't quite fit the Great Blue Heron description. More like a Little Blue Heron.