The Doubling of Night Herons Season

I set out with S to paddle the big marsh and do some bird watching. Night Herons from a nearby rookery have fledged and they are numerous in the big marsh, which is a prime feeding spot for them. S has a cracked bone in her hand, which limits her paddling. So, we avoid the more vigorous tidal paddling by putting in directly in the marsh at the Wildlife Refuge launch.Then, we head out into the maze of small channels in the center of the marsh.

We flush ten Night Herons at the central phragmites patch - 5 Black Crowns and the rest either Yellow Crowns or juveniles (juvenile Black Crowns and Yellow Crowns require a close look to differentiate).

The weather is great, 80-ish with sun and a bit of breeze. Out towards Nell's channel, we spot 3 or 4 Common Terns and a couple Least Terns, an we continue to flush Night Herons.

Up at the top of the marsh, we headed back into Beaver Creek. We sight about a dozen Night herons as we head in. They are perching in the trees, waiting for the better feeding when the tide drops, I suppose. 

From there, we head back to the start passing nine Great Egrets, all in the trees, and flushing more night Herons.