Pair of juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons at Bear RiverPair of juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons at Bear River – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I couldn’t bring myself to go to Antelope Island to see the destruction that the fire caused yet so I spent yesterday morning at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and pretty much had it to myself.

On the way there though I had another rock thrown into the windshield of my Jeep so I am at home this morning waiting for it to be repaired. It happened in the same section of I-15 that is under construction where my Jeep got hit by a rock in mid May.  If there were only another way to get past that construction!

Watchful Black-crowned Night Heron juvenileWatchful Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I saw plenty of birds yesterday including juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons at Bear River MBR every where I looked. Most of the night herons flew off well before I could get close enough to take pictures but there were two that seemed to ignore me, my Jeep and the big lens hanging out the window.

The heron above wasn’t nervous about me when I photographed it, it was being watchful of a male Northern Harrier that flew very close to it and the other juvenile night heron nearby.

I am not sure I care for the background in these images because it does look a bit messy but this is where the herons live and I don’t take them being out in the open for granted.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron Lifting OffJuvenile Black-crowned Night Heron Lifting Off – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I saw at least 100 juvenile and adult Black-crowned Night Herons on my trip around the auto tour loop and I hope that means they had a great breeding season this year.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Black-crowned Night Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.