I was birding in the Kettle Moraine South in Waukesha County this morning when the birding wheels stopped. I saw the note on the Little Blue Heron at Lake Maria in Green Lake County. I looked at distance to Lake Maria and thought why not. The normal range for this visiting bird is more the southern US. Upon arriving at the boat landing at Maria Lake, it only took me a minute to see the Little Blue Heron a long ways down the shore to the north. It was hard to see in the grasses, but I knew that the bluish bird could only be the Little Blue Heron. It continued north until it was surrounded by 4 Canada Geese and then 2 adult Sandhill Cranes later did not seem to happy to have it around either. The Canada Geese appeared to threaten it, but all backed off right away and left that area. It looked like Canada Geese nests were everywhere but empty and the Sandhill Cranes appeared to be tending to little ones behind the tall grasses. The bird moved back a little to the south in and out of the grasses. Perched once off shore for about 45 minutes. I could not see it perched but figured, it was doing that and did not see it fly away. It went back towards shore and I saw some blue go up into a tree, figured it was once again going to perch. After about 30 minutes, it flew out of the woods, made a 90 degree turn to the south and flew right in front of the boat landing. That was the last I saw of the bird. I hung around for about 20 minutes. A few other birders came and went but it was quiet there. The Little Blue Heron was found this morning by Jeff B and Wendy S got the word out for others to see. A big thank you to them and what a fun time it was! I hope it hangs around for awhile for others to see. Some of these images are distant but felt they were part of the story. Images were taken on May 20, 2016.
Little Blue Heron
Binomial name: Egretta caerulea
Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies
Size: 24” long, 40” wing span
Weight: 12 oz
Looking for food
Looking for food
Looking for food
Looking for food
The Little Blue Heron is far down the shore to the north
Looking for food but the Sandhill Cranes are watching too
Canada Geese are moving in, the Little Blue Heron moves out
Time to move to a new spot
Canada Geese have surrounded the Little Blue Heron
Canada Goose makes a statement and the Little Blue Heron does not move
The Canada Geese move out of the area, the Little Blue Heron (in the middle of image) stays put for the short term
Time to move to a different area again, moving slowly to the south along the shore
Looking for food once again
Looking for food, but here comes another Canada Goose, off the Little Blue Heron goes!
Lets try this place for looking for some food
Under a tree limb the Little Blue Heron is looking for food
Little Blue Heron looking for food
Little Blue Heron looking for food
Little Blue Heron looking for food
Little Blue Heron looking for food but on its way to perch
Off the perch it goes and heading to the south off shore near the boat landing
Heading south
Heading south
Heading south
Heading south
Heading south
Heading south
And still heading south as it passes by me…….
