June 25, 2004
Baby herons
As you may have noted, the frequency of my postings has been decreasing over the last couple of weeks, partly because bird activity has quietened down for the breeding season, but mostly because I've been snowed under with work (need to get the workload shifted in readiness for fall migration!). However, this morning I rode out to the UC Davis Arboretum to check up on the nesting herons. To my delight, the Green Herons whose nest was blown out by strong winds in March have successfully fledged 4 young. Here are a few photos:
I was particularly fond of this pair, who seemed to be joined at the hip!
A newly-fledged Black-crowned Night Heron was also feeding at the water's edge.
Over at the main rookery, the nestlings (which previously had been concealed in the dense foliage) were all sitting in the treetops, from a distance looking like a bizarre white blossom:
Snowy and Cattle Egret young were abundant...
... along with smaller numbers of Great Egrets.
Burrowing Owl chicks should be emerging from their nests in the next week, so hopefully more baby shots to follow.
Posted by rjhall at June 25, 2004 7:50 PMGreat pictures, Richard. Have you had any luck going for the black rail yet?
Posted by: Pica at June 25, 2004 8:00 PMThe Black Rail is going to have to wait I'm afraid (too much work right now) - will have to try a 'Rail tide' this winter!
Posted by: rjhall at June 25, 2004 8:21 PM