There are a few of these on a lake nearby my place. It looks a little like a Great Cormorant but not quite. I finally found it in Wikipedia. It’s definitely a Green Heron.
The green heron is relatively small; adult body length is about 44 cm (17 in). The neck is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey underparts and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season. Juveniles are duller, with the head sides, neck and underparts streaked brown and white, tan-splotched back and wing coverts, and greenish-yellow legs and bill. Hatchlings are covered in down feathers, light grey above, and white on the belly.[4][5][6]
The green heron’s call is a loud and sudden kyow; it also makes a series of more subdued kuk calls. During courtship, the male gives a raah-rahh call with wide-open bill, makes noisy wingbeats and whoom-whoom-whoom calls in flight, and sometimes calls roo-roo to the female before landing again. While sitting, an aaroo-aaroo courtship call is also given.[5][6]
When I first saw this bird and was trying to get its picture, I thought it might be a Roadrunner because of the way it would run very fast on the road and in open spaces in the field. But I found that it is called a Killdeer.
According to Wikipedia, “The killdeer is a large plover found in the Americas. It gets its name from its shrill, two-syllable call, which is often heard. It was described and given its current scientific name in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae. Three subspecies are described.” Wikipedia
It seems that Blue Jays have this favorite spot right outside my window in this little tree. It’s wonderful to see them–to see how colorful God has decorated them.
I was out for a walk when I saw this black bird. I had to walk around to the side of him in order to see his red wings–a delight to see God’s handiwork.
He looks around, but isn’t afraid of the camera–yet.
On this pleasant fall day one large tree was full of noisy black birds. I didn’t see many of them; they were hiding in the leaves. But then all at once they all flew out and decided to rest on the old abandon telephone wires.
How the black birds love to gather together. What a grand reunion.
About a week ago a brave mother Robin did all she could to fight off a large hawk. It looked like a Red-Tailed hawk–very large.
Red-Tailed Hawk
I saw it in my living rook window. I immediately thought, Oh no the baby birds. So I ran to the window and scared it away. I looked down at the Robin’s nest to discover that there was only two babies in the nest. The hawk must have carried the other two off. Then a couple hours later, while I was working in another room, I heard a commotion and birds chirping. I went to the living room window to discover that the nest was empty. Too late! The chicks were gone.
The four baby chicks right outside my window.
Then I saw her. The mother Robin was near by perched on a tall dead tree stump. I thought, she must be devastated. I saw her quite often when she was sitting on the eggs and also after the chicks were hatched–sitting on them and guarding them. So we knew each other–sort of.
She looked so torn up and beaten up. She stayed around the empty nest for hours sulking over her lost chicks. I felt so bad. I haven’t seen her for over a week now. I wonder how she is. Will she come back to the old nest and try again? I hope not. it’s too dangerous.
Stephen Nielsen 