Weekend Birding: Black-crowned Night-Heron
The Black-crowned Night-Heron is a medium-sized, stocky heron that is found throughout a large part of the world including North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. In my area they are summer residents and migrate to the southern US and Mexico for the winter.
Although the Night-Heron is a fairly common bird, I rarely see them and almost missed spotting this one who was blending in nicely with some dead branches hanging over a river bank. I tried to get closer but the bird flew off to the other side of the river. Apparently I was disturbing his hunt for breakfast.
Night-Herons, as their name would imply, are most active at dusk and at night but can occasionally be seen in the early morning. They are patient hunters who will sit and wait for prey to swim past. They eat fish, crustaceans, frogs and small mammals.
Saturday Snapshot was originated by Alyce at At Home With Books. For the summer it will be hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy. Visit her blog to see more great photos or add your own.
© 2013 Under My Apple Tree. All rights reserved.
Under My Apple Tree 
Like many creatures, this heron has such brilliant camouflage. My snapshot is My Snapshot is http://goo.gl/LUiDP
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I can see where you almost missed him. He’s doing a good job of blending in with the surroundings. Beautiful shot, as always, Leslie!
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How dare you interrupt breakfast for that cutie;)
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Excellent hiding place! And you have an “eagle eye” to spot him. Thanks for sharing…and for joining in my fun at my blog today.
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He’s a beauty. I’ve only seen two or three in my lifetime.
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He’s got some great camouflage there – great catch! Interesting that it’s a common bird that almost no one sees.
My sculptural snapshots
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Thanks for another informative post. I’ve not heard of the Night Heron, learning something new every time I come here.
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I would never recognise this as a heron, stocky indeed!
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I’ve never seen this bird. Lovely!
Here’s my Saturday Snapshot.
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He was doing a good job of hiding from you!
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It’s extraordinary how quite large, striking birds can hide from us, which I guess is the point. Glad you, and we, got to see him.
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We have a few water birds around here, but you can only get close to the Canadian Geese and then only if they do not have young ones. But I enjoy watching any bird from afar too. Thanks for sharing your awesome bird photos.
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I’m kind of a night bird myself 🙂
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He definitely is hiding. Had to look for a bit to find his beak.
GREAT photo.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Saturday Snapshot
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Beautiful photo!
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