Tag Archives: green heron

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

A Green Heron at Pee Dee NWR, NC

-Sally Siko

When exploring near ponds and marshes in the Carolina’s it’s hard not to stumble on a Green Heron or two hanging out on the shore.I spotted this handsome guy while on a birding trip at the PeeDee NWR.

It was a lot of fun to watch this bird hunting for a meal. In fact, there were several of them skulking in the cattails too.Sometimes it takes a few minutes to spot them nestled in the reeds so patience is required lol. My best advice is to look for the reflection of sunlight glinting off of their eyes among the shadows.Since they are so common they’re often overlooked but if the light hits them just right, these little birds are absolutely beautiful!



As it goes with others in the heron family, Green Herons can be found walking in shallow waters stalking fish, insects and small crustaceans.When their prey is spotted, they’ll freeze and then strike like a dart into the water piercing the prey with their bill.
Interestingly, Green Herons also employ another tactic to catch a meal as they’re the only species of heron known to “bait” their prey.
These clever birds will use twigs, feathers, or insects to lure a fish within reach. When the fish comes in closer to investigate the object, the bird will strike.Truly a smart and fascinating creature IMO!The Green Heron is found throughout the Carolinas from March to October so you’ve still got plenty of time to go see them this year.
That being said, quite a few of them have been reported to spend the wintertime in our southeastern coastal counties which is pretty neat!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Green Herons on Sunset Beach NC

When birding near shallow bodies of water in the eastern Carolina’s it’s hard not to stumble on a Green Heron or two hanging out on the shore.
I spotted these beauties earlier this week while birding along the Carl Bazemore Bird Walk in Sunset Beach NC.



It was a lot of fun to watch them squabble for the premium perches in the scrubby brush which lined the shore. There were several of them nesting in the cattails near the observation deck too.
It takes a few minutes to spot them nestled in the reeds so patience is required lol. My best advice is to look for the reflection of sunlight glinting off of their eyes among the shadows.
Since they are so common they’re often overlooked but if the light hits them just right, these little birds are absolutely beautiful!



So it goes with others in the heron family, Green Herons can be found walking in shallow waters stalking fish, insects and small crustaceans.When their prey is spotted, they’ll freeze and then strike like a dart into the water piercing the prey with their bill.Interestingly, Green Herons also employ another tactic to catch a meal as they’re the only species of heron known to “bait” their prey.These clever birds will use twigs, feathers, or insects to lure a fish within reach. When the fish comes in closer to investigate the object, the bird will strike.
Truly a smart and fascinating creature IMO!

The Green Heron is found throughout the Carolinas from March to October so you’ve still got plenty of time to go see them this year.That being said, quite a few of them have been reported to spend the wintertime in our southeastern coastal counties which is pretty neat!



Photo by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Green Herons in NC

By Sally Siko

When birding near shallow bodies of water in the eastern Carolina’s it’s hard not to stumble on a Green Heron or two fishing at the shoreline.
Since they are so common they’re often overlooked but if the sunlight hits them just right, these little birds are absolutely beautiful!
Looking closely at their wings you can even see how they got their name.


As it goes with others in the heron family, Green Herons can be found walking in shallow waters stalking fish and small crustaceans.
When their prey is spotted, they’ll freeze and then strike like a dart into the water piercing the prey with their bill.
Interestingly, Green Herons also employ another tactic to catch a meal as they’re the only species of heron known to “bait” their prey.
These clever birds will use twigs, feathers, or insects to lure a fish within reach. When the fish comes in closer to investigate the object, the bird will strike.

While most of the Green Herons will depart from North Carolina for warmer locals this autumn, a small population appears to spend the cooler months just a couple hours south in the coastal regions of SC so it’s worth keeping an eye out for them there during the winter.
Aren’t they lovely?!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Green Herons at the Huntington Beach State Park

When birding near shallow bodies of water in the eastern Carolina’s it’s hard not to stumble on a Green Heron or two fishing at the shoreline.
Since they are so common they’re often overlooked but if the sunlight hits them just right, these little birds are absolutely beautiful!
Looking closely at their wings you can even see how they got their name.



As it goes with others in the heron family, Green Herons can be found walking in shallow waters stalking fish and small crustaceans.
When their prey is spotted, they’ll freeze and then strike like a dart into the water piercing the prey with their bill.
Interestingly, Green Herons also employ another tactic to catch a meal as they’re the only species of heron known to “bait” their prey.
These clever birds will use twigs, feathers, or insects to lure a fish within reach. When the fish comes in closer to investigate the object, the bird will strike.



While most of the Green Herons will soon depart from North Carolina for warmer locals during migration, a small population appears to spend the cooler months just a couple hours south at the Huntington Beach State Park in SC so it’s worth keeping an eye out for them there during the winter.
Aren’t they lovely?!
🙂

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the mighty mirrorless monster of a camera, the @canonusa
#R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes

A Green Heron encounter at the Pee Dee NWR

If you get the chance, it’s nice to take a few minutes to sit and watch a Green Heron hunting for a meal.
I spotted this handsome guy while on a birding trip at the Pee Dee NWR in Wadesboro NC last weekend.
He moved slowly, one foot methodically placed over the other, creeping at a snails pace as not to alert its prey hidden below the surface of the murky water below.
The Heron struck twice but came up empty both times. Undeterred, he kept at at it eventually landing a small fish a little further out into the pond.

Like most other Heron species, Green’s prefer to spend their time wetland habitats such as marshes, bogs, swamps, creeks, ponds and lakes. Their diet consists of fish, frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes, crayfish, insects and even small rodents when the opportunity presents itself.
During the winter, they’ll hunt for prey in brackish water so small crustaceans and mollusks will be on their menu too.

These handsome birds are found throughout the Tarheel state from March to October so you’ve still got plenty of time to go see one this year.
That being said, a few Green Herons have been reported to spend the wintertime in our southeastern coastal counties which is pretty neat!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A green Heron encounter at Lake Betz in Morrisville N.C.

Made a quick trip out to Lake Betz in Morrisville, NC this morning and was rewarded with an encounter with this handsome Green Heron.
These attractive Herons are aptly named for their dark green backs, but they’re far more colorful than their monochrome name may initially suggest!

Green Heron


Their heads and napes are also dark green, but their lores (the spot between the base of their bills and eyes) can be bright yellow-green in breeding plumage. Their wings show brighter blue-green iridescence in good light, with each feather defined by a buff border. Their neck is a rich, bold purplish-chestnut shade with white streaks along the throat, while the lower abdomen is a medium gray.
What a sharp looking bird!

Photo by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc
Canon 5Ds