Both kinds of Night Herons -- the yellow-crowned and the black-crowned -- can be found in Florida. You'd think from the names that these birds would be difficult to spot during the daytime.
And that is true with this guy, the black-crowned. So it was surprising to see him on a mid-day walk at Corkscrew Swamp. And even more surprising that he posed so beautifully.
I think it's a first-summer juvenile because the bill is yellowish, where the adult's would be all black. (Maybe he hadn't learned yet that he is supposed to be roosting in trees during the day.)
In spite of the fact that they are said to be even more strictly nocturnal, we actually see the yellow-crowned quite often ... even sometimes, like the one below, right here on the canal where we live.
Like all herons, both birds are relaxing to watch. They're absolutely serene and patient as they wait ... positive that the perfect fish or crab dinner will come along when it is supposed to.
LINKING TO WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY, the best virtual birding on the web. Go click the links. Thanks to STEWART for hosting.
I love herons
Posted by: Ramblingwoods | February 15, 2014 at 05:48 PM
Nice pictures - as you can see I have emerged from the brain swamp that was my stats course!
Thanks for the comment about the gull picture - I'm off to that island again tomorrow, even if it means a early start!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Posted by: Stewart M | February 15, 2014 at 01:50 AM
Two such handsome herons, I agree, always relaxing to watch herons...
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | February 13, 2014 at 11:53 AM
What great shots.
Posted by: Lady Fi | February 13, 2014 at 06:00 AM
Gorgeous shots! Love the second one!
Posted by: Mary | February 13, 2014 at 12:11 AM
Hi, Sallie! I really enjoyed your post. The heron photographs are terrific!
Their scientific name actually translates to: "night bird which can often be seen in the daytime because they like to enjoy the Florida sunshine as much as those humans".
(My Latin is rusty, so the above is a loose translation.)
Posted by: Wally | February 12, 2014 at 08:23 PM
I love the heron photos...the scenery is also lovely. Thanks so much for your comments on my blog. I did get them...my comment moderation is on and it is slow to say it but I do get all the comments and I love them all. Your comment was very beautiful and means a lot to me. Sometimes I am slow to put the comments in the blog as I read them first. cheers. nora
Posted by: islandrambles | February 12, 2014 at 03:19 PM
I saw the yellow-crowned in Costa Rica. A lovely bird to watch.
Posted by: NatureFootstep Photo | February 12, 2014 at 01:52 PM
Lovely shots. I really like the Yellow-Crowned.
Posted by: Adam Jones | February 12, 2014 at 12:18 PM
Serene and patient, - wonderful words to describe them. How nice to be so confident! What a greatl assortment of birds you see, Sallie.
Posted by: Hildred | February 12, 2014 at 11:31 AM
Their manner of waiting for dinner to come along makes them perfect to capture, eh! Absolutely beautiful captures, Sallie! The second is so elegant - my favorite:)
Posted by: Jeannette StGermain | February 12, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Beautiful. I usually see just one Heron in Jersey, but it's too wet and windy just now!
Posted by: Hazel | February 12, 2014 at 09:15 AM
You always have such beautiful bird pictures ! Besides sparrows and a few magpies I don't see anything here for the moment !
Posted by: Gattina | February 12, 2014 at 09:13 AM
Wonderful shots!! I recall my first sighting of this bird I happened to be in Texas at the time, and I was so blown away its such an exotic looking bird, it reminded me of the old drawings of early ornithologists like Audubon!
We have yet more sleet and snow falling today, so many song birds are on the ground picking up the seed I put out this morning.
Posted by: Sondra | February 12, 2014 at 08:11 AM
We have not seen a Heron around here in years. You have some really nice photos.
Posted by: Abraham Lincoln | February 12, 2014 at 06:21 AM
Hi Sallie.. Linda and I are enjoying your part of the world for a few days.. Love the sun and temps... Went to the light house at Boca Grande yesterday but mostly just "chilling" out.
Posted by: Joe Todd | February 12, 2014 at 05:28 AM
Dearest Sallie,
Wow, I learned 2 diffent herons today. In my area, we see egrets (white heron). Really happy to see your great pictures and expanation of rare kinds (for me, haha). Thank you very much for sharing.
Sending you lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Posted by: orchid | February 12, 2014 at 05:10 AM
Whoa..these are gorgeous bird shots! I love how they posed so lovely for you!
Posted by: Reach Beyond Limits | February 12, 2014 at 03:55 AM
Your bird photos are always so impressive, never seen these herons before.
Posted by: lindyloumacinitaly | February 12, 2014 at 03:12 AM
Hi,Sallie. Nice captures. We would see this kind of black-crowned night heron sometimes. They would be hiding in the shade of many leaf tree in day time.
I enjoyed your former posts very much. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Minoru | February 11, 2014 at 11:25 PM
You get to see such interesting birds there in Florida, Sallie. Love your photos and descriptions. I hardly see anything but Magpies and a few crows this time of the year.
Posted by: Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti | February 11, 2014 at 10:49 PM
Absolutely beautiful -- I adore that last photo! It makes me feel peaceful just to look at it.
Blessings,
Aimee
PS: Rain this week. Will need lots of sunshine from Florida to survive it :)
Posted by: Aimee | February 11, 2014 at 10:33 PM
Fabulous shots! Beautiful markings on the Yellow-crowned night heron.
Posted by: Karen, Pixel Posts | February 11, 2014 at 08:16 PM
Fabulous photos, Sallie. While we have herons here, not this black crowned night heron; at least not that I know of. I do love watching herons fish with their patience and their precision.
Posted by: Penny | February 11, 2014 at 07:52 PM
Both those herons are beautiful and so good to see them during the day. I always think it is interesting to see birds doing what the books say they don't do!!
Posted by: Mick | February 11, 2014 at 07:42 PM
Thanks for stopping by to visit! I'm definitely glad to be back amongst my on-line friends. And I love your photos...this is not a bird I'm familiar with, though we do have a large population of Great Blue Herons here in Vancouver...:)
Posted by: Lynette Killam | February 11, 2014 at 06:46 PM
Just wonderful photos!
Posted by: Dawn | February 11, 2014 at 06:31 PM
Lovely birds and photos. We occasionally see nocturnal birds like owls in the day here, but it's rare.
Posted by: Al | February 11, 2014 at 04:47 PM
I love your bird photos, they're great Sallie. I especially am taking note since we have just returned from Florida and we saw all those glorious birds. I was sooooo happy being surrounded by them, never in my life have I see so many different ones from what we can get here. I don't remember seeing your Yellow-crowned but got such a kick out of seeing the Black-crowned heron. Fabulous birds!!! Can you tell I love Florida?
Posted by: Denise | February 11, 2014 at 03:35 PM
Nature is so beautiful and you have captured its dazzling beauty ~ thanks,
carol and artmusedog
www.acreativeharbor.com
Posted by: artmusedog and carol | February 11, 2014 at 03:32 PM
Great sightings of both of the Night Herons, Sallie! They are cool birds, I love seeing them. Great shots!
Posted by: Eileen | February 11, 2014 at 02:12 PM
Sallie, I wish I was there watching these beautiful birds. I agree watching birds is very relaxing.
Posted by: Jean | February 11, 2014 at 01:48 PM
I think these are even prettier than the blue heron, although the latter is so graceful when flying! Beautiful shots of this beautiful bird!
Posted by: Lowell | February 11, 2014 at 01:47 PM
I so agree with you....I love watching birds. It's relaxing for us, but they are very busy! I wonder if they relax watching us....:)
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
*♥´¨) ¸.-´¸.-♥´¨) Happy Valentine’s Day¸.-♥¨) (¸.-` ♥♥´¨
Posted by: Linda | February 11, 2014 at 01:26 PM
Beautiful herons. We have different species of herons. They are probably bigger, and certainly not nocturnal.
Have a great week!
Wil, ABCW Team.
Posted by: Reader Wil | February 11, 2014 at 01:06 PM
Nice serie, great photos!
Posted by: HansHB | February 11, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Those are both gorgeous birds. I've never seen either one before so your photographs are a treat.
Posted by: Carver | February 11, 2014 at 11:36 AM
I hope nothing eats him!
Posted by: Dianne | February 11, 2014 at 11:28 AM
Gorgeous shots of the herons!
Posted by: Gunilla | February 11, 2014 at 09:45 AM
i see the yellow-crowned here occasionally - those huge EYES! have never seen a black-crowned and would love to.
Posted by: TexWisGirl | February 11, 2014 at 08:14 AM
I published a post of the two crowned herons duking it out for territorial rights the other week!!
They're fascinating birds. And beautiful images you share.
Posted by: Hootin' Anni | February 11, 2014 at 07:26 AM
Absolutely gorgeous photos. It's sad to think that we are destroying the habitat of such magnificent creature. The yellow-crowned seemed to have white crowns instead of yellow. May be that bird in the first picture is suffering from insomnia and thus can't sleep during the day :-P.
Posted by: KL | February 11, 2014 at 07:20 AM