Greetings Tweeters,
I had some down time between jobs this morning so decided to visit Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary in Everett. I was hoping to look for a Mallard I repeatedly observed and photographed there last year, from duckling to adult, who had a clear bum wing.
After quietly watching from a distance the usual mix of Mallards and Wood Ducks at the main pond, I approached closer and suddenly realized there was a large and very TALL bird hanging out on the sunning logs with the ducks. Unfortunately the bird spotted *me* a second before I spotted him/her and thus took flight before I could get any images of it on that lovely perch, but it flew into the edge of the trees just across the pond and landed so it was still clearly visible. I was able to observe and photograph it for quite at while. Initially, in the first moment of surprise, I had assumed it was an American Bittern. But after it landed in the trees and I could really look at it, I realized that it was a GREEN HERON.
This was the first Green Heron I've seen in many years, so it was a nice surprise and thrill. Based on the streaks on the neck, I assume it was a first summer juvenile. I never did see the Mallard I was searching for, nor any of the Yellow Warblers I could hear singing in the trees, but the Green Heron, along with a Pie-Billed Grebe and the Wood Ducks, all made for nice photographic opportunities.
The set of images I shot is available here: http://www.flickr.com//photos/18600129 at N05/sets/72157631165864640/show/My favorite image of the Green Heron is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/18600129 at N05/7826541102/Next time I will approach the pond with just a bit more stealth. Never know what might be lounging there!
Cheers,
Christy Jobe Kenmorechristyrj at hotmail