Heron Photography - Lenny Gorski's Portfolio

Great Egret

Coming on for a early morning landing.

The better the food source, the more reluctant the Egret can be to leave an area but you still have to take your time to get close. I like to look around and try not to make prolonged eye contact.

Egrets have been known to live more than 22 years. Their diet is Fish, Crayfish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, insects and even a mouse now and then.

Boaters on the shoreline of the Eastern US are familiar with these Egrets on islands and in marsh's. They are very widespread over the continent with some wintering in CT if we have mild weather and they have access to food due to a lack of ice. This one is showing it's 55" wingspan. Truly a majestic bird.

Can be confused with juvenile Great Blue Herons which are white and around the same size.

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron

CT

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret in a soft Autumn afternoon glow, through the grasses

Clinton CT

Juvenile Green Heron

Note the Down feathers on his head. About 4-5 weeks old.

He was looking up at an adult Little Blue Heron flying over.

I just Love this image.

Tri Color Heron siblings

Four to six weeks old

These two were within feet of their nest, located in a large

tree and part of a colony with Snowy and Great Egrets, Green, Little Blue and Black Crowned Night Herons.

South Carolina

A very young Green Heron

Snowy Egrets - Adults

Hierarchy display. One Egret would not tolerate others within his space.

Tri Color Heron

Morning light, SC

American Bittern

The Bittern is a secretive Heron and not commonly seen due to its colors and strip pattern blending in perfectly with its chosen environment, freshwater marsh grass and cattails. Periods of motionless as it waits to ambush prey can turn into a lightening speed strike. Deliberate slow steps when hunting as it moves along the edges.

Hammonasset State Park, Madison CT

Juvenile Snowy Egret

Very young

Tri Color Heron

Dawn

A southern bird but I did get to see one in CT in 2023. This one in South Carolina is hunting. They hold their wings out to create a shadow to more easily see minnows.

Great blue Heron

October in CT

At first glance, you'd think this Great Blue was gathering nesting material but it was October. His activity is likely food related given their varied diet and the fact that none of the several Egrets and Herons present were seeing any minnows. He was also appeared to be picking something off an old buoy floating nearby.

Great Blue Heron

Just having left nest

Great Blue Heron

In Flight

Snowy Egret adult feeding young.

South Carolina in June

Wood Stork

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

The Wood Stork is the only Stork present in the United States. Once more prevalent, it has suffered from habitat loss. The number one threat to all birds.