Hunting Tricolored HeronHunting Tricolored Heron – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 270mm, natural light, not baited

A few weeks ago back I posted a Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage and today I wanted to post an image of one in nonbreeding plumage from 2009.  In this image the heron’s legs are yellow, the eyes are a watermelon pink and the lores are yellow, in breeding plumage the legs are pinkish red, the eyes are a darker red and the lores and the upper portion of the bill are almost a cobalt blue.

When I photographed this hunting Tricolored Heron I was laying flat on my belly in the shallows where the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico gently lapped the shore. I found that if I laid very still that this heron would approach me very closely, at times it was too close to focus on.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Tricolored Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.