Sunday, August 30, 2015

Little Blue Heron

For this week's memes ( my list is below) and my wild bird I am featuring the Little Blue Heron seen at the local Baltimore County park  North Point State Park. I was able to capture the adult, juvenile and the transitional Little Blue Herons.

 " Enjoy the little things in life..for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things".  author unknown.



An awesome spot to see the Little Blue Herons is just a short walk down this wooded Black Marsh trail.


The lush Black Marsh wetlands contains marsh loving shrubs, grasses and various flowers. The land side of the marsh is a mature forest.


Above is the white juvenile Little Blue Heron.  From a distance you would think this Little Blue Heron was actually an Egret. But, you have to check out the bill and leg colors to see the differences.


The Juvenile Little Blue Heron has an olive-gray bill and greenish legs and feet.


Another look at the juvenile Little Blue Heron.




Above is the transitional mottled Little Blue Heron.


You can above the mottled grayish blue and white on the Little Blue heron above.


Another shot of the mottled white-blue Little Blue Heron. For Monica's NF Trees and bushes I am sharing the wild hibiscus bush and flowers. The blooms are  pretty behind the heron.


And last I share the adult Little Blue Heron in the mosaic above and the two images below. It is a beautiful heron and one of my favorites.


Another adult Little Blue Heron, this park seems to be home to these birds in the summer. You just have to put up with some bugs to see them.


The Adult Little Blue Heron being stalked by a turtle. They are beautiful herons and wonderful birds to see. I hope you enjoyed my Little Blue Herons post. Thanks for stopping by and for the nice comments.   Happy Birding and I wish everyone a very happy new week!

I hope to see you linking up and have some fun visiting each other.

 Thanks to Judith our  host of Mosaic Monday

Thanks to Monica for hosting NF Trees

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes

 Thanks to Mersad for hosting Through My Lens.

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Birds Wednesday



96 comments:

  1. Awesome photos of the herons. They're beautiful birds.

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  2. Wonderful photos of the Little Blue Heron! I love the shot with the hibiscus bush!

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  3. O que dizer? Maravilha tudo aqui! Linda semana! bjs, chica

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  4. Great photos, as always, Eileen!
    Such beautiful birds and interesting colours.
    The wild hibiscus looks gorgeous too.
    Thank you for sharing and have a lovely new week!

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  5. They are such beauties and I actually love that mottled look on the young ones, just such a beautiful bird, along with others seen in this post. Have a Happy Week Eileen~

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  6. Wonderful photos and very interesting. It looks to be a pretty shade of blue.

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  7. Lovely photo's again Eileen. I love your trail photo, it looks very peaceful and also the second from the bottom picture as the heron is just balanced.

    Have a lovely Monday.

    All the best Jan

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  8. Indeed, I did think it was an egret. I always learn so much from you. Isn't wonderful how nature allows us to learn through its transitions? Thank you and as always have a grand day!

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  9. You always have such a wonderful collection of critters. Tom The Backroads Traveller

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  10. I've never 'caught' a mottled juvenile. (?) Hmmm. So cool.

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  11. great photos, interesting to see the different plumages between juvenile, adult and transitional

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  12. Being used to seeing grey herons, the blue is quite striking. Lovely photos Eileen.

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  13. We have to enjoy the greenery and bluery while they last! Cool nights here!

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  14. Hari OM
    Pretty indeed - love the 'inbetweener'!!! YAM xx

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  15. Hello, Eileen.
    Beautiful photos as always. It is first time to see that blue heron!
    I enjoyed your herons and the pretty hibiscus too.
    Have a good new week.

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  16. It's incredible the number of birds you see in some of these places!

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  17. They are beautiful! I especially love the mottled pics.

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  18. Oh gosh - that blue heron is a beauty!

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  19. wonderful images eileen, i am forever chasing these beautiful birds!!! the feathers on the little ones are so pretty!!!!

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  20. Wow! Great images of the life cycle (almost) of the little blue heron. What fun this must have been. Happy Monday!

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  21. You got some great pictures of the Little Blue Herons. I found the comparison of the three ages interesting and informative. Thanks.

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  22. Beautiful Egrets and Herons, I love them.

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  23. Eileen, your shots of those amazing herons are just wonderful!!! Love the reflections in the water, awesome!
    Have a fantastic week!
    Nancy

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  24. Lovely shots of beautiful egrets and herons. I like the mottled white-blue Little Blue Heron with the white flowers.

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  25. Fabulous images, Eileen! Your juvenile Blue Heron looks identical to our Intermediate Egrets and the adult is similar to our Eastern Reef Egrets in grey morph stage.

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  26. You are so lucky to have so many beautiful big birds near you. We have Grey Herons here in NW England and that's about it until the Geese come from the far north in October.

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  27. These are amazing images of the Blue Heron Eileen.

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  28. Fabulous shot of the Herons! Love that first shot.

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  29. I quite agree with you about the little and big things, love the blue heron, we only have the gray one here I think.

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  30. Very nice, Eileen. I loved the turtle "stalking" the heron.

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  31. I have never seen this bird as an adult...beautiful. And what an interesting young heron all white, then almost tie-dyed! Fabulous shots...well done Eileen!

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  32. That looks like a 1st Summer heron....before it gets all its color.

    Oh Eileen...they're all such beautiful images, I can't pick a favorite today. That park must be a glorious place to trek for birding. I think I'd be there a LOT!!!

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  33. so very cool! i'd love to see them someday!

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  34. This is a great bird. I love the mottled transition look. I remember my first time seeing the white juveniles and thinking that they looked like egrets...but something was off:) Then I learned more about the LBHE. Beautiful pics Eileen!

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  35. That first photo just makes me want to go for a long stroll.

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  36. Great shots, Eileen. I would love to see these for myself.

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  37. Lovely birds none like that around here but up north they have herons but I don't think they are blue.
    Merle............

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  38. Beautiful Heron shots Eileen..I used to live along wetlands that housed lots of Herons and Egrets..That was before I was a shutterbug unfortunately..Have a wonderful evening..

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  39. I had no idea the juveniles were white Eileen but must say I really like the mottled blue/gray stage of the feathers.
    Wish we had a wetland like this to watch the birds - I only ever see one blue heron at a time.
    Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.

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  40. Beautiful herons, Eileen! You have such extensive birding knowledge, and great photography skills as well. Thanks for sharing!

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  41. Beautiful shots Eileen and I love seeing the transition from juvenile to adult. The Little Blue Heron is such a pretty bird. I see them from time to time at the lake near where I live.

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  42. Such glorious birds and WONDERFUL photos!

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  43. "mottled white-blue Little Blue Heron" - so cool! Thanks for showing us in detail.

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  44. That little heron has the best blue/white coloring.

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  45. I would never have known that was a young heron. Very informative and great pictures.

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  46. I find the mottled plumage quite attractive.

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  47. The birds are gorgeous, but the way you capture the backgrounds and their habitats is amazing! That one with the wooded reeds is so beautiful!

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  48. Hello Eileen,
    It is strange how the juveniles are so white!
    The adults have a magnificent plumage! We don't have them here.
    Great footage, I love to see the birds on your side of the Atlantic :)
    Keep well, enjoy your day!

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  49. They are so pretty. Very beautiful photos!

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  50. So cute little blue heron!
    Have enjoyed your post in my little lunch break...
    Have a great late summer time :-)

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  51. You know I never tire of the herons and this is just one more beauty. Happy Day.

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  52. Very nice photos!
    Thank you for sharing your photos here. I hope you'll come link up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/08/strange-visitors-in-garden.html

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  53. Such a wonderful place to watch the water birds is a gem. Regards.

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  54. I hope I get to see a little blue heron someday!

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  55. Nice shots. I laugh at some of the things we do. "How was your weekend?" "Great, I spent an hour trying to see the feet of a heron!"

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  56. Thanks so much for linking in with "Through My Lens".

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  57. Hi! Nice little blue heron photos. The juvenile ones look like egrets. Thanks for sharing.

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  58. The juvenile is white... I never knew that. Just look at what all you can learn when you least expect it. Great pictures, Eileen.

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  59. I love that mottled look. Looks like someone painted it.

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  60. I learn so much from your blog, Eileen ... the Little Blue Heron (both adult and juvenile) were new to me - a case of love at first sight! We have Little Egrets and occasionally Great Whites (and plenty of Grey Herons), but it's lovely to see something completely different. Thank you for your comments on my jellyfish.

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  61. What a wonderfully informative post, Eileen. And I have to comment on the fact that your little blue heron is actually blue. I always wonder at the naming of the Great Blue Heron as he is clearly gray, at least to my old eyes. Beautiful post and I love the transitioning shots. Thank you, Eileen ...

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  62. Hi Eileen! What a beautiful park, and I love the mottled guy. Gorgeous!
    Have a wonderful week!

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  63. Beautiful birding shots. I love how the one is sitting among the hibiscus.

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  64. I loved your photos. What a great collection.

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  65. Wonderful photos, Eileen! I really love that mottled heron in the marsh mallows! (Are wild hibiscus the same flower? I just love calling them marsh mallows! :-) )

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  66. Hi Eileen,
    marvelous photos of the white, blue and gray heron. Gorgeous !
    Best, Synnöve

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  67. love the quote. have a great birdie week! ( ;

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  68. Great photos - love that you were able to capture all the phases.

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  69. How wonderful to walk along that trail and see it open out onto all those herons and egrets. Just my sort of birding too Eileen. Thanks for the object lesson in IDing, ageing and sexing herons and egrets too. Lovely pics.

    Enjoy the rest of the week Eileen.

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  70. Gorgeous photographs! There is a family of Great Blue Herons living out in the field here in New England. It's so nice to see him flying over the pond and around the farm. They are magnificent creatures and fascinating to watch. Thank you so much for sharing, have a wonderful week :)

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  71. Ohhhhh, these are exquisite photos. Such lovely, lovely creatures are the Great Blue Herons. Thanks so much for letting us catch a glimpse of such beauty in nature.

    Brenda

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  72. Great photos of the Heron and really interesting to see how it changes color. That path through the woods is very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  73. I love these birds. We do see them pretty often now in Florida (never here in Oregon). The first time I saw theme we were in Louisiana on an airboat tour of a bayou. The guide wasn't very interested in birds. When we finished the tour we made him give us backroad directions so we could drive to the place closest to where we'd seen them. I got a few pictures and felt like I was in bird heaven!

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  74. Nice photos of the little blue heron. He's really a cute bird! I've been on vacation so am trying to catch up to blog commenting.

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  75. Enjoyed the great photos - thanks for sharing. I don't think about seeing herons in my part of the country, but did see quiet a few on trips thru North and Mid MS.
    Thanks for stopping by. My daughter always keeps a big supply of beanies made up for the cold weather, and the Grands friends put in special requests.
    Enjoy your evening.

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  76. Hi Eileen, How exciting to see so many Little Blue Herons in various ages. Wow! So glad you got to see the herons. Have a super nice Wednesday tomorrow!

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  77. Good information with your photos Eileen. Your love of these birds comes shining through.... Michelle....

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  78. These are wonderful birds, Eileen! I love that you captured the various plumage to share with us, too. The colors are beautiful and I love the green legs :) Amazing flowers, too! Hope you have a good week. x Karen

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  79. They are really very beautiful to see. Enjoyed seeing their beauty...

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  80. love your images of the little Blue Heron. Especially the one that looks dotted :)

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  81. Beautiful birds!
    Great photos!
    Have a wonderful day!

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  82. Hi Eileen, I love walking on these walking trails "with" you and seeing the birds that you see. I've been held inside the past week with work jobs and a bad cold. I need to get out in the fresh air. Have a lovely week, and thank you for stopping by my blog to say hi.

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  83. Lovely photos , Eileen. I have never seens a blue heron before. Lovely to see it here

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  84. Your pics are beautiful, Eileen. I wonder if I've seen young ones before and assumed they were egrets.
    ~

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  85. Really nice to see all these different herons. The little blue heron is new to me :-)

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  86. Lovely presentation. It is always a joy to see your wildlife captures.

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  87. I don't think I have ever seen one. I love the transitional photo and all your photos are really superb Eileen. Thank you for introducing me to this very pretty bird. Have a great evening :)

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  88. Loved your Heron shots . . .
    Gosh you are good!

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  89. Dearest Eileen; First of all, I LOVE the quote very much as I'm really tiny (little) since kid and my late mother used to said "you'll be big not the size-wise":ー)

    Oh, how interesting to see these Little Blue Herons and know how they can be identified when young♡♡♡ Love the heron with the wild hibiscus photo,so pretty♬♬♬ I don't know why I can see Egret all year around in my area. But I really thankful for them at least being close to me(♡˘◡˘♡)

    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

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  90. It's magic when you can encounter such beautiful herons in the woods.
    Lovely serie Eileen!
    Have a nice weekend, Hilde
    Visiting from Trees n Bushes
    http://stapjesonderweg.blogspot.be/2015/07/monasterio-de-santa-catalina.html

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  91. It's magic when you can encounter such beautiful herons in the woods.
    Lovely serie Eileen!
    Have a nice weekend, Hilde
    Visiting from Trees n Bushes
    http://stapjesonderweg.blogspot.be/2015/07/monasterio-de-santa-catalina.html

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  92. Oh! These are amazing photos. Thank you for sharing.

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