FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] A Seige of Green Herons under siege.

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

July 6, 2005
Riverport Road
Shelby Co. TN
 
Poking around the wet areas of Horn Lake Cut Off, which parallels Riverport  
Road that leads you into Ensley Bottoms, I found a large gathering of Green  
Herons. I counted 27 immature birds and 15 adults in one hole and 7 more birds  
in the other areas for a total of 49!! That is my high count for this species 
 and having 42 in one sweep of the glasses was pretty neat.
 
There are a couple of loose breeding colonies of Green Herons near by and  
evidently they had a banner breeding year. A group of herons is sometimes 
called 
 a siege and after watching a little while, I found some of these birds were  
actually under siege.  
 
A mink was playing or not playing with a few of these birds, chasing them  
off the floating logs. It would pursue one until it flew and then chase 
another, 
 swimming or running from log to log. I think the little mighty mite had a 
big  meal on its mind. This is my third encounter with Mink at this location. 
We 
once  watched as an adult carried a small youngster from one location to  
another. It would stop occasionally, put the young down then pick it up and  
start out again. 
 
I got one distant photo of this siege under siege........ You never know  
what you will see next!
 
Good  Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL'COOT / TLBA
Bartlett,  TN