Green Heron

Green Heron

This young Green Heron had a serious itch.  He couldn't quit scratching it while balancing somewhat precariously on the spatterdock roots.  The water at Venetian Springs was a little green this morning, add that to the green reflections and you end up with, well, a lot of green.  Photo was taken at The Venetian Gardens in Leesburg, FL this morning.

Green Heron

This adult Green Heron was carefully supervising her young while it was learning to hunt.  Her perch is the roots of the water lily plant called Spatterdock, they get absolutely huge.  The Venetian Gardens in Leesburg, where this was taken, are doing a major cleanup of the waterways and it is rapidly turning into an exceptional spot for viewing birds of all kinds, along with otters and gators.

Green Heron on Lake Eustis

Along the banks of Lake Eustis are the remnants of an old boat factory.  The city has also built a nice marina and raised concrete walkways along the shore.  The old pilings and other structures from the boatyard make great perches for birds, turtles and the occasional snake or gator.  Green herons are one of my favorite birds due to the intensity of their hunting behavior.  I waited a considerable length of time trying to see the attack but his attention span is much greater than mine.

Green Heron

The Green Heron, aka Greenbacked Heron, is a ferocious hunter.  In my observations I rarely see them wade in the water but usually sit just above the water and stare intently for prey.  They have the most intense yellow eyes and are very wary of people.  I took this shot at a boat ramp on Lake Harris in Leesburg.  The greenie stayed very calm because he was on the opposite side of a canal and I apparently couldn't get within his safety zone.  I see these rarely compared to the other species of herons and egrets but it's always a pleasure when I do.