Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron stalking prey – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 230mm, natural light
I enjoy watching birds and observing their behaviors every bit as much as I do photographing them. Watching and taking images of this juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron was no exception. I had been photographing it on the west side of a tidal lagoon at Fort De Soto’s north beach then I moved over to the east side of the lagoon to photograph some White Ibis in that area though I kept watching this immature heron as it made its way towards me. I was sitting still in the grasses partially hidden by the height of the spartina and the heron didn’t seem at all alarmed or bothered by my presence and it soon came very close to me.
Immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron with a crab – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 260mm, natural light
The young Yellow-crowned Night Heron moved very slowly and it seemed to do that deliberately. It would take a step, stop, and then move its head side to side while looking for crabs in the spartina and grasses of the shoreline.
I watched as the juvie Yellow-crowned Night Heron caught and ate several crabs that it found in the vegetation until it moved away from me. The memory of this moment in time with this young heron still makes me smile.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow-crowned Night Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
Lovely photos! Last evening, after an afternoon of heavy rain, we spotted a juvenile yellow-crowned night heron in our back yard. At first we thought maybe it was injured. We stepped outside to get a closer look and it didn’t seem bothered by our presence. It was happily picking through the grass for worms or insects that had been brought to the surface by rain. It stayed until dark and this morning it was gone. Wish I would have captured some photos!
Ashley, it is wonderful when a creature like your juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron allows you an intimate look into their world. Thank you for sharing your story!
Cool pics – love that gangly neck!