A Great Week for Herons
Three days ago we saw four herons in Yettie Polk Park, Belton, Bell County, Texas. On our normal early morning walks we might see one or two GBH, but on the 26th we saw one GBH, one Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and two Green Herons. We were quite pleased with ourselves, especially as the rising sun usually makes it difficult to see the birds. But today we saw 9 herons (2 GBH, 2 YCNH, 5 GH) and hardly know how to act. I was able to take "recognizable" photos of some of the birds for the purposes of iNaturalist, but I have documented all but the final "fly over" in my personal writing.
[There were squirrels, pigeons, cats, ducks, geese and normal observations too. We also saw cardinals that chipped at us and refused photography. One young Red-shouldered hawk was also moving from tree to tree and hiding in the foliage. Still, wonderful, if miserably hot mornings.]
What a day!
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)Observer
alflinn329Description
It was a good day for Herons - we saw 4 in the park this morning - 3 species: 1 great blue, 1 yellow-crowned night heron, and 2 green herons.
Photos / Sounds
What
Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)Observer
alflinn329Description
It was a good day for Herons - we saw 4 in the park this morning - 3 species: 1 great blue, 1 yellow-crowned night heron, and 2 green herons.
Photos / Sounds
What
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)Observer
alflinn329Description
It was a good day for Herons - we saw 4 in the park this morning - 3 species: 1 great blue, 1 yellow-crowned night heron, and 2 green herons.
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)Observer
alflinn329Description
It was a good day for Herons - we saw 4 in the park this morning - 3 species: 1 great blue, 1 yellow-crowned night heron, and 2 green herons.
Photos / Sounds
What
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)Observer
alflinn329Description
It was a good day for Herons - we saw 4 in the park this morning - 3 species: 1 great blue, 1 yellow-crowned night heron, and 2 green herons.
Photos / Sounds
What
Hardwood Stump Borer (Mallodon dasystomus)Observer
alflinn329Description
It was deceased and the ants had found it. Because of its size, I thought I should document... not your normal little june bug, that is for sure.
Photos / Sounds
What
Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)Observer
alflinn329Description
One of the few blooms observed along the creek.
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)Observer
alflinn329Description
Also a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron along the far bank.
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)Observer
alflinn329Description
The heron circled in one photo and seen along the far bank in the other. I was surprised to find it as I took photos of the GBH. You can best see the details in the reflection in the enlarged photo.
Photos / Sounds
What
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)Observer
alflinn329Description
5! We saw five! Some were startled and flew into the trees. One flew over the car as I was leaving the park. It was a crazy day for herons.
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