VA Birders,
I lucked into six heron species at Huntley Meadows in Fairfax County
this evening. I arrived at the park around 6:30pm and was told by
someone standing at the beginning of the boardwalk that the
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons had been there earlier but had flown into
the trees. Your classic "you should have been here 5 minutes ago"
story. I strolled over to the other side of the marsh enjoying the
Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets when I noticed a Black-crowned
Night-Heron standing out in the open on the other side. Nice look, out
in the open, can't do better than that. I ran into Katie Simmons and we
watched and waited for bitterns but saw none. While we were standing
there a Green Heron flew over. We went back to the beginning of the
boardwalk. Still no Yellow-crowned Night-Herons.
About 7:30, Katie decided to head for home and I went back out on the
boardwalk still hoping for a bittern. I got about half way out when I
heard a loud "quarck" behind me. Three Yellow-crowned Night-Herons flew
out of the trees and landed in the part of the marsh that is ringed by
the boardwalk. They were completely out in the open offering excellent
views of their breeding plumes. Just as I was soaking up the good view,
the Black-crowned Night-Heron on the other side of the marsh took off
and was followed by a second. They circled the marsh and then flew off
over the trees. I watched the marsh for a while thinking that seeing a
bittern after such great looks at the night-herons was just asking too
much, but there before my eyes an American Bittern picked up out of the
marsh, flew to another spot and landed.
Wow! What an evening.
Sue
--
Susan Heath
Fairfax County
Centreville, VA
sheath@xxxxxxxxx
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