Blue Herons, Green Herons and Great Egrets (White Herons) visit Wisconsin during the warm weather, and if you watch carefully you'll see that they are accomplished fish catchers. Most of the following photos were taken during July, August and September at Villa Grove (Mequon) and at the Thiensville Dam. A few pix (Night Heron and Blue Heron with nesting chicks) were taken at Greenfield Park in Greenfield.
This photo of a Blue Heron was taken at sunrise at the dam.
A Black-Capped Night Heron was spotted at the Greenfield Park coming in for a tree landing.
In July, this Blue Heron was attending to its checks at a nest in Greenfield Park.
Not the best looking kids I've seen, for sure!
A Great Egret lands at Villa Grove.
Another Egret joins it and they jostle to gain territorial advantage, but it looks more like a ballet than a fight.
A Blue Heron already on the scene takes issue and the Egret flies away to a secluded part of the river.
Egrets are slow-moving and patient while fishing but are rewarded often.
Blue Herons are equally adept at fishing and even large fish pose no problem.
The Herons above and below took two fish while three fly-fishermen nearby never got a bite.
Green Herons (below) are a smaller version of the larger Blue Herons but never failed to catch their limit.
Crayfish are easily snagged but the Green Heron had to work harder for frogs.
Sunrise is a great time to observe birds and other critters as they begin searching for food. And so what if you don't see any...you're enjoying the solitary, quiet beauty of Mother Nature.
