A Full-time Life

BABY BLUE’S LUNCH

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 We've seen hundreds of Great Blue Herons and I've probably photographed nearly that many — but it doesn't have to be a new bird to make me happy.  Especially when we get to observe behavior we haven't seen before. 

 

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We saw and heard this little screaming match going on up in the greenery at Wakodahatchee.    I was glad we tore our eyes away from the nesting storks (here) and looked up, because these herons unknowingly let us witness a great show.     Just a slice of daily life for the birds, but a new learning experience for these bird observers.   

 

 

 

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Baby Great Blue Heron was hungry.   And he let the parent (could be either mom or dad) know by tapping the adult's gullet.    

 

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Ouch! 

 

 

This little one had obviously been around long enough to know where dinner comes from:   The adult swallows the fish and then regurgitates it back up into the babies beak.

 

 

 

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After about half an hour, the adult bird finally gave in and (rather roughly it seemed) gave the kid its meal.    I wonder if making the baby wait a while is the beginning of the weaning process.   It would be interesting to watch the whole process from hatch to fledge the way I've been able to do with the Bald Eagles that nest nearer to us.  

 

Here are some other Wakodahatchee birds showing off their fine feathers: 

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(L):  Snowy Egret, Boat-Tailed Grackle; (C):  Green Heron preening; (R):  Little Blue Heron; Green Heron

 

 

 These are the last pictures from our last overnight excursion this Florida season and I'm linking  them with the following sharing opportunities:  

 

OUR WORLD on Tuesday; NATURE NOTES; MOSAIC MONDAY; ALL SEASONS; WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY; SATURDAY CRITTERS; RATHER B'BIRDING; and THROUGH MY LENS 

 

Thank you to all of the hosts.

 

We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.

71 responses to “BABY BLUE’S LUNCH”

  1. Patrick Tillett

    Great photos Sallie!
    I’m glad my mom didn’t feed me like that.

  2. Breathtaking

    Hello Sallie, I’m late as usual, as the family are here at weekends. Wonderful captures of a Great Blue Heron parent feeding its young, and great observations. I also enjoyed seeing all your excellent bird captures.:)

  3. Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin'

    Thanks for sharing this weekend, at I’d Rather B Birdin’. Your participation is always so much appreciated, Sallie!! I love all there is about the GBH. Excellent images, as always.

  4. diane

    Amazing shots of these amazing birds.

  5. NatureFootstep photography

    very interesting post. But I have to say I always feel uncomfortable when this kind of birds feed their young. Their bill is so long and sharp it is a wonder the babies don´t get hurt.
    Thanks for sharing it.

  6. Eileen

    Hello, I love the photos of the heron chicks being fed. So cute! Great birds and wonderful photos. Thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

  7. Gattina

    I have never seen these birds in free nature !

  8. bettyl - NZ

    Sallie, you take great photos and I’m always entertained by the images on your blog because they are critters that I won’t see here. I love the different poses the birds are in–that really makes the series interesting.

  9. Penny

    LOVE seeing the Great Blue Herons’ feeding interactions and appreciate your picture taking abilities, Sallie, and interesting deduction that maybe Mama is slowly weaning her offspring.
    I have never seen a boat tailed grackle. We have grackles here, but, not this one. Thank you. 🙂

  10. Mary Howell Cromer

    Oh My Goodness Sallie, Wakodahatchee is where I took those images of the Great Blue Herons back in late February and they were working on nest building. They were very high up in a tree and just stunning. I imagine that these young ones are the product of that session. How marvelous they are~

  11. David Gascoigne

    Good morning Sallie: It’s a wonderful post, with your opening paragraph encapsulating it all. Congratulations on your detailed observation of the heron behaviour and the excellent series of photographs.I am impressed!I hope you provide us with more such posts. Gros bisous de ton ami canadien, David

  12. Colleen@ LOOSELEAFNOTES

    I can practically hear them screeching! That was a fun bird’s eye view!

  13. Lowell

    Thanks for the comments, Sallie. Always good to be heron from you, and this ol’ coot thinks you pretty special. When you find another country to live in that’s affordable and is not led by thugs and Russian gangsters let me know please!

  14. Ramblingwoods

    I didn’t know that Sallie….smart bird!…. Michelle

  15. handmade by amalia

    This was fun to watch, Sallie.
    Amalia
    xo

  16. Alexa T

    Such great and wonderful aspects captured!! So lovely to see them through your camera lens. And you beautifully said: “Just a slice of daily life for the birds, but a new learning experience for these bird observers.”
    That’s a part of happiness for sure. The joy to be able to see new and warm aspects of nature.
    Many thanks for sharing them with us. Hope one day to see myself such amazing things.
    A pleasant and sunny day, week, too! Alexa

  17. Kenneth C Schneider

    Great images from such an interesting place. Need to get out there when we return to Florida. Some day I will learn to spell the name of the place– I keep trying to put “Dakota” in the middle!

  18. Sara - Villa Emilia

    The Great Blue Herons look like cool punk rockers. 🙂 Very interesting and handsome birds in the collage too.
    Great photos, Sallie, thank you ever so much for sharing!

  19. Linda

    Wonderful captures, Sallie!

  20. Sue

    Wow Sallie that certainly was a real eye-opener! Thanks for sharing, it’s fascinating learning about all the different habits of birds. Your photos are wonderful :D)

  21. Judy Biggerstaff

    Great photos. Love seeing him with his lunch and the young bird.

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