Here’s the rest of the pictures from the day in my previous post. This was our first of two trips in a panga boat down the Rio San Cristobal near San Blas, Mexico. I was more often than not on the wrong side of the boat this time, but as we were slowly and quietly passed through the water, I managed to get some photos.
Though we saw mostly herons of one sort or another, the likely river raptor is the Snail Kite. This one I caught in flight. Yes, they eat snails.
Snail Kite 
We saw lots of White Ibis nearly every day, but for the most part they weren’t very easy to capture. This one stood out against the dark background from a distance.
It was still possible to see some of the usual passerines. Not so usual were the Red-Billed Pigeons. I wish I’d gotten a closer look at them.
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher 
Green Herons are some of the most cooperative subjects. I suspect they are really focused on their quest for food, to not mind me clicking away.
Green Heron
For good measure, more birds I will likely see this spring and summer: Great Egret, Black-Crowned Night-Heron and Great Blue Heron.
Great Egret 
Black-crowned Night-Heron 
It was a real treat to see this Bare-Throated Tiger Heron out in the open.
Bare-throated Tiger Heron 
Little Blue Herons aren’t so blue until they are adults, like the one below.
As dusk curtailed our excursion, we managed to capture good looks at a nocturnal species, the Northern Potoo.
A couple more of two foraging herons…
It’s especially nice to look at these photographs today, as a distraction from the accumulating snow that continues into the afternoon, to be followed by drastically dropping temperatures on my way home from work. It’s supposed to be somewhere between 1-2 degrees Fahrenheit tomorrow morning, not counting the windchill, when I walk to the train. But all is not lost. We warm up on Saturday so it can start snowing again. Maybe I can catch a few photographs of the hearty goldfinches at my feeders. The snow was beautiful this morning but it was too early for decent light.
I wish you safety and warmth wherever you are.
I am always happy to see heron pictures.
Me too. 🙂
Another wonderful variety, Lisa! I especially love the last shot of your Green Heron and its reflection!
Thanks, Donna. I can never get enough of Green Herons. Every year I count on seeing the pair that frequents my beloved Portage… 🙂
I do love herons. As you know blue herons are not too rare around chicago. Especially love the green herons, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those.
Great Blues are indeed everywhere, I think, on earth. Green’s are harder to see since they’re much smaller and they often tend to fade right into their surroundings but they seem to be in a lot of places too. I have seen two every summer at the Portage.