Tag Archives: black-crowned night heron

One of my birding stops today was Humboldt Park and the highlight there were a family of Black-crowned Night-Herons. 2 Adults and 4 juveniles hung out on the side of an island. They flew a few feet here or there but no major show by them. Maybe they had already eaten this morning but I saw no food being gone after or consumed. Some preening did occur. It was a beautiful morning with a light breeze, some sun, and mild temperatures. Images were taken on August 16, 2022.

Black-crowned Night-Heron #1, adult…

Some preening…

Stretching…

Stretching…

Black-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile…

Black-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile…

This one up in a tree, Black-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile…

Looks like it was watching for something to eat…Black-crowned Night-Heron, juvenile…

Black-crowned Night-Heron #2, adult…

I got a tip this morning on Black-crowned Night-Herons at Lakeshore State Park and I went to check them out. There were 3 juvenile birds present and they hung out on the rock shores catching food on one occasion that I saw. A few other attempts for food were made but they were missed. It was a beautiful day that warmed up to hot by noon, sunny skies and low winds. Images were taken on September 19, 2021.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron juvenile hunting…

Such a beautiful bird…

Hunting…

Preening…

Waiting for something to come swimming by…

Here’s a catch, a fish…

Moving around on some rocks…

Standing at the shore this one waits for something to come by to eat…

Standing in the water and waiting for something to eat…

Just waiting for something to come by to eat…

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…

A stop at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee this morning provided nice views of an adult Black-crowned Night-Heron. One has been seen on and off for the last couple of weeks, mostly off. This is the first time I have seen it in plan view. I saw it yesterday perched high in a tree pretty much out of sight, but viewable with bins.  It was a nice surprise for a change. There were also plenty of Green and Great Blue Herons also present at the pond. It was a gorgeous morning, very little wind, full sun with a pleasant temperature of 65-70 degrees.

First view of the adult Black-crowned Night-Heron…

The reflection shot…

Looking and waiting for something to eat, showing off its classic plume…

It makes its way towards the island under some cover and snatches something to eat…

The gulp, swallowing whatever it found to eat…

Looks around on where to go next close to the island…

Comes back out in the open…

Perches pretty…

Looks around…

Something catches its attention…

….but then looks around some more and then heads onto the island pretty much out of sight…

Shaken’ off and all fluffed up…

Even though it was a gloomy and rainy day I birded along a small part of the Milwaukee lakefront. Beaches Mckinley, Bradford and Lakeshore State Park had only a hand full of Ring-billed Gulls. A glance at Veterans Park provided distant views across the lagoon of a single Black-crowned Night-Heron. With rain coming down I took a distant shot of the FOY bird. A day of showers and sprinkles with little wind on a gloomy day with temps in the upper 30’s. Image was taken on April 13, 2018, a little early for this species arrival.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

A stop this morning at Greenfield Park in Milwaukee County proved worth while. Juvenile Green Herons and a Black-crowned Night Heron gave nice views and put on some shows. The Green Herons fished for food, but came up with very little size wise if anything as they are still learning the ropes. The juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron just hung out at a few locations there, preening was the highlight. Also present, the pair of Belted Kingfishers which are seen often flying back and forth around the pond. Plenty of juvenile Wood Ducks are at most ponds. A beautiful morning out with low 70’s, sun and a nice breeze from the northwest. Images were taken on August 5, 2017.

Black-crowned Night Heron, juvenile

Black-crowned Night Heron, juvenile preening

Black-crowned Night Heron, juvenile

Green Heron, juvenile

Green Heron, juvenile eyeing up it’s next meal

Green Heron, juvenile

Green Heron, juvenile

Green Heron, juvenile, in for the catch!

Green Heron, juvenile

Green Heron, juvenile

Green Heron, juvenile, it may have something here!

Green Heron, juvenile, heads out of the water…

Green Heron, juvenile, on to the log…

Green Heron, juvenile, a look around…

Green Heron, juvenile

Green Heron, juvenile, back to fishing…

Green Heron, juvenile on alert!

Green Heron, juvenile, the closeup…

Green Heron, juvenile, more fishing…

Green Heron, juvenile, waiting for the next catch!

Doing some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee today, Bruce and I stopped to check out if the Black-crowned Night-Herons were still by the lagoon, as they were yesterday. They were, but only 3 as 4 were seen yesterday. I’m sure the other one is around. One did a little preening but that was about it for action. Beautiful birds always sitting high in the trees. It will be interesting to see how long the hang around. A little nice day than yesterday to get a couple shots off. Images were taken on April 14, 2017.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Binomial name: Nycticorax nycticorax

Category: Bitterns, Herons, and Allies

Size: 25” long, 44” wing span

Weight: 1.9 lb

In flight

Doing a little preening