Friday, May 30, 2014

Green Heron at work

Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park
apparently, fish tickle when you swallow them

A Green Heron showed up at Azalea Pond in Central Park on Thursday, and spent the day happily fishing. It was a good close look--the bird spent most of its time on a small fallen branch only a few feet from the pond's edge.

It was the smallest Green Heron I've ever seen. They're supposed to be 15-18 inches long, but I think this one was barely a foot. It seemed to be OK, though. Maybe it's just young.

When resting, it looked like it had almost no neck.
Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park

But when it got interested in something...
Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park

..it would stretch out and get it right quick.
Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park

After that, it would swallow the fish and do that ruffled-feathers thing in the top photo.

I watched the heron work for quite a while.

Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park
Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park
Ed Gaillard: recent &emdash; Green Heron, Azalea Pond, Central Park

Time well-spent, I think.

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