Rondeau Ric

Green heron, Harrow, Ontario, Canada, August 19, 2018 We went looking for the purple gallinule that was being seen near Harrow, Ontario. It was seen before we got there and after we left. Across the road was this nice green heron. I'm not good enough with photoshop to turn it into a gallinule. Butorides virescens The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It often creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, and feathers, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/

Another shot taken from the pontoon boat. It was busy having a bath and I don't think it noticed the boat as we drifted in. Butorides virescens  Green Herons usually hunt by wading in shallow water, but occasionally they dive for deep-water prey and need to swim back to shore—probably with help from the webs between their middle and outer toes. One juvenile heron was seen swimming gracefully for more than 60 feet, sitting uprigh t “like a little swan,” according to one observer. source -  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/lifehistory

Anne spotted this green heron from the pontoon boat while cruising the shoreline of Rondeau Bay. I drive the boat, she finds the birds. Today we had great blue heron, whimbrel, black terns and this green heron. Very interesting to watch it pluck an insect, usually a midge, and drop it into the water to entice a fish within striking range. Butorides virescens The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, earthworms, twigs, feathers, and other objects, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish. source- Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

We saw this Green Heron while out on the boat back in September. Butorides virescens The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, earthworms, twigs, feathers, and other objects, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish.

A green heron waiting for a nice frog to come up through the green duck weed. Butorides virescens From a distance, the Green Heron is a dark, stocky bird hunched on slender yellow legs at the water’s edge, often hidden behind a tangle of leaves. Seen up close, it is a striking bird with a velvet-green back, rich chestnut body, and a dark cap often raised into a short crest. These small herons crouch patiently to surprise fish with a snatch of their daggerlike bill. They sometimes lure in fish using small items such as twigs or insects as bait. The oldest Green Heron on record was 7 years, 11 months old. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Look Ma, No Cavities! , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Of course he has no teeth so it's easier for him. This is an immature Green Heron that we saw along the marsh edge in Rondeau Provincial Park. Are you old enough to remember the Crest commercial from the late 70's that used the the "look ma, no cavities" line? Photo taken at Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. For more information go to: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Bittern/id

What's up there? , a photo by ricmcarthur on Flickr. Maybe it's looking for a tree frog. Herons and egrets always look awkward in trees, at least I think so. This is an immature bird, if you look closely you will see fuzz on its head and back. It was feeding along the edge of the bay then flew up into the tree. The scientific stuff: Adult herons are a striking bird with a velvet-green back, rich chestnut body, and a dark cap often raised into a short crest. These small herons crouch patiently to surprise fish with a snatch of their daggerlike bill. They sometimes lure in fish using small items such as twigs or insects as bait. Photo taken at Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. Butorides virescens