Black-crowned Night-Heron in Action at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on August 24, 2018

While birding Lakeshore State Park this morning in Milwaukee in search of shorebirds, I came across a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron. This heron put on an amazing show while I watch it. Some of the excitement was producing a pellet, eating a vole and some exercises. Herons are known to produce pellets. A beautiful bird and still only a juvenile. It was a cloudy day with a stiff breeze out of the southwest, temperatures pleasant and a few times I felt I should have a light jacket. I couple of shorebirds were present and they were Semipalmated Plovers and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Images were taken on August 24, 2018.

Black-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile

Sitting and waiting for the next meal…

Always looking the area over for any movement…

Waiting…

Starts to cough up a pellet…

Out drops the pellet…

The heron looks at it…

A quick dip in the water for a drink I would assume…

A small mouth stretch…

Next it catches a vole…trying to get a grip here…

Does not look good for the vole…

Getting it in the right position to swallow it…

In and down it goes…

A quick dip in the water with the bill, typically something they do after eating something…

Looks full…

Looking for the next catch…

Playing with and old Cattail cane, herons play with objects and practice their skills

Playing…

Playing…

It was pulling here on the old cane…

Pulling…exercising…

Looking around and the stiff winds blow the head feathers up…

Climbing around on the rocks…

A close-up…

A wing stretch…

Preening…

Scratching…

The feet…

A good mouth stretch…

Perched pretty…

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Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

14 Responses to Black-crowned Night-Heron in Action at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on August 24, 2018

  1. Peggy Lison says:

    Terrific sequence Jim!

  2. Gisela says:

    Beautiful images, Jim. Love the photos of behaviors and the close-ups. Great work!

  3. Darrell Schiffman says:

    Jim
    What a great series of pictures on the Night Heron feeding

  4. Ann Lowrey says:

    Jim, excellent photos and commentary! I always learn so much from your postings. Ann

  5. Rebecca DuBey says:

    An excellent study, such wonderful photographs. Didn’t know they upchucked pellets, or ate voles. I loved the footwork when climbing the rocks. Thank you for posting!

  6. Thomas Wood says:

    A great lesson for all of us about Black-crowned Night-Heron behavior. We could learn a lot more about birds if we had your patience, Jim. This is a great sequence with amazing details!

  7. John McCaw says:

    Love it, Jim!

  8. jenn says:

    These are wonderful! Thank you for sharing!

  9. Kathi Johnson Rock says:

    What a story these photos tell Jim. Just wonderful photos!! Thank you!!!

  10. Maryanne says:

    Excellent photos.
    I love night herons and learned so much more about their behavior from your photos.
    Thank you!

  11. Sue Peterson says:

    Great photos! Very educational.

  12. Chris Carlson says:

    Great series of photos. Excellent detail. Wonderful to look at.

  13. Joan Schrinner says:

    Amazing! Simply amazing, Jim!

  14. Laura Wentz says:

    What a super series. Thank you for sharing it.

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