January 24, 2018 . Pairing behavior of Great Blue Herons

I’m beginning to see patterns of behavior during pairing of Great Blue Herons.  Here are some examples.

The Stretch

Usual flying configure when working -  with the neck in the "S" configuration

During pairing, though, the male flies circles around the nest and his prospective girlfriend - with his neck extended.

Sometimes there is a lookout

Scratching his face

Passing a twig from male to female

Off to fetch another twig  (nest building materials)

Returning with a twig

Passing the twig

Off for another twig

Fetching another twig - Neck in the "S" configuration

Returning with a twig

Off for more twigs

Returning with a twig

Landing

Passing the twig to the female (the construction supervisor)

Returning with another twig

Anxious female awaiting the twig

Female watching an intruder

Male returning with another twig

Off ro another twig

Time out for circular flying to impress the female (straight neck)

Straight neck for short circle around his girlfriend

Beak dueling

January 22, 2018: Great Blue Heron Harvesting

After watching early nest building, pairing  and mating of Great Blue Herons, the next activity seems to be the male searching for suitable twigs and moss while the female weaves them into the nest.

Time lapse video of harvesting a twig with Spanish moss

Vigorously pulling a twig

Holding a twig and displaying breeding plumage

Wrestling with a twig

Holding a twig with Spanish moss, I suppose to make a comfy interior of the nest

I love the lighting of this image

Once the twig is harvested, the male returns holding the twig in his mandibles 

Landing with a twig

Departing to fetch another twig - A female in a neighboring nest is seen

Returning with a long twig

Passing the twig to the female

The female takes the twig

And weaves it into her nest

January 17, 2018 . Wings

Colorful Wings

Roseate Spoonbill

Teal Ducks

Taking a bath

Incoming Twig

Rarely do we see pelicans around our lake

January 7, 2018: Birds in Flight, Circle B Bar

A morning of birdwatching at Circle Bar B

A Bluegray Gnatcatcher

An Ibis with breakfast fish

A flock of egrets

A flock of ducks