Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Clever Green Heron

One last post about my week on the Savannah Marsh.  Each day I tried to finish my writing work in time to make the long trek out to the distant dock to watch the sunset.  It was spectacular every night, and good motivation for productive writing.

On one and only one of those evenings I tarried well after dark, and lived to regret it because I had no flashlight with which to navigate the long boardwalks over the marsh or the rough ground of The Hammock.  It was a harrowing trek back home. The reward for my folly was worth it, though.

That's the night I spied a dusk-loving green heron standing in the mud at the edge of the marsh water.  It was too dark for clear photos.  You'll have to imagine the rich shades of blue head, red neck, green wing feathers, and yellow feet.  He was beautiful to behold, and patient.  He stood longer than light allowed me to watch.

I swear, he was baiting his prey.  If I hadn't seen it with my own amber browns, I wouldn't have believed it.  He broke off bits of dry marsh grass to drop in the water, then had for supper whoever it was that came to investigate.  dkm



7 comments:

Crosby Kenyon said...

It gives new meaning to the term "bird-brain," doesn't it?

bibi said...

It sounds pretty close to heaven to me. beautiful post.

Mike B. said...

I still haven't seen one of these birds! I'm told they sometimes stay hidden. I'll keep searching.

dkm said...

Easy to miss. I got lucky. Right time, right place, long still-sitting. Books say they are plentiful, but secretive.

Jane Robertson said...

We have grey herons and white herons but nothing like this multi-coloured rain-box!! Beautiful writing to match the dusky setting.

Jane Robertson said...

Whoops - 'brain-box'!!! (have a cat sitting on one arm - consequently typing-disabled).

Nicole said...

That must have been so fascinating to watch!