Really enjoyable photos Paul. Neither you nor viewers have mentioned yet,
so I thought I would, that photos 1-4 and 6 are of a juvenile Green Heron,
and photos 5, 7, and 8 are of an adult Green Heron. The juvenile in flight
(both flight photos) has pale edging on the flight feathers and secondary
coverts, and spots on the primary coverts and scapulars. These features can
be seen on the standing juvenile bird as well (except the primary coverts
are hidden), and you can see a few whisps of down on top of the head, and
of course the streaks on the chest that you just see a bit from the side,
rounded back feathers, along with a more yellow/orange upper mandible. With
the adult, the lanceolate shape and iridescence of the back feathers and
scapulars is strikingly different and *green* (no spots as on the
juvenile), and rusty wing covert edges, rich chestnut neck, darker upper
mandible, etc. If you have not, take a look at all the differences between
the juvenile and adult! Great photos to study them!
Matt Hunter
Melrose
On Sun, Aug 9, 2015 at 3:02 PM, Paul Meyer <pkmeyer@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Green Heron — Fred Meyer ponds — August 9, 2015
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127702706@N08/sets/72157657031183235
Paul
