The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
Great Egret, Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-heron, Snowy Egret, more rarely Green Heron, the small stream bordering our garden regularly receives morning visits. But the most assiduous visitor is “our” Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor). Always a pleasure to see it arrive, almost every day. Sometimes with a friend (male or female… no sexual dimorphism for this pretty species), most often alone.
For its head carriage, it uses the flexibility of its neck, always with grace and elegance. Perched on a rock at the water’s edge, neck retracted, it seems to concentrate before its fishing session. At other times, it will extend it and become majestic, perfectly still, like a Greek statue.
It also sometimes sports different outfits, for example, depending on its age or during the breeding season.
To date, I have not yet had the pleasure of observing them during their breeding period.
Joanna Crilly, with whom we exchange on Instagram, very kindly sent me and allowed me to publish here her three superb photos in nuptial plumage. I warmly thank Joanna for thus enriching this article.
Over time, the one we often see has become accustomed to our presence. If we pass slowly near it when it is fishing, barely a quick glance before resuming, indifferent and calm.
When it comes to the stream, it is of course to feed. The fishing sessions are quite a spectacle. We never tire of observing them.
Sometimes it dances, wings spread, to cast a shadow on the water’s surface and better see the small fish (see my video)
If the water level in the stream, which varies with the tide, is not suitable for it, it will dive opposite, into the nearby sea.
To conclude this article, some fishing attitudes of our “darling”, the beautiful tricolored heron.
The 3 photos in breeding plumage are by Joanna Crilly, the other photos and videos are by the author, they are not royalty-free.
