This beautiful Reddish Egret struck a beautiful pose for me.
The Reddish Egret is probably the most typical heron in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This one was seen in Flamingo Lake perched on a tree branch in the water. These birds have a pinkish base to their beaks, a a beautifully reddish neck.
Something must have caught his eye.
They wade in search of small fish in the shallows of the lake
This juvenile yellow crowned heron came for a visit and a drink from the pool.
It’s been so hot of late and this juvenile, yellow crowned night heron has been visiting the pool at Harbour Club Villas to cool off and to get a drink. Juvenile night-herons have different plumage from the adults. The juvenile is grayish-brown overall with thin spotting on the back and upperwings. This heron is a year round breeding resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The adults look quite different and are dark gray over all, with black on the face and a large, white ear patch. The crown is also white. In breeding season, they get white, thread-like plumes on the back of the head and long, plumes of feathers on the back.
The adult night heron has a thread like plume on the back of its head
Yellow-crowned night herons acquire adult plumage by two years of age. It makes a living catching crabs and especially likes land crabs, and will even dig into their burrows to catch them. Although primarily nocturnal it does sometimes hunt in the day, and can be found quietly stalking through the dry bush looking for a meal. They’ve been seen eating cockroaches too.
He didn't like me approaching him and kept making warning noises.
Juvenile night heron with gorgeous brownish grey spotted feathering
Piercing yellow-orange eye
Preening yellow crowned night heron sitting on the pool fence at Harbour Club Villas.
looks pretty fierce here as he gets ready to fly off.
Love the long plumes from the back of his head.
Our guests at Harbour Club Villas are frequently surprised by both Green Herons and Yellow Crowned Night Herons as they fly in to drink water from the pool. It’s lovely to see and watch them as they squawk and make their presence known. It’s almost like the pool belongs to them and how dare these non flying creatures be allowed to lounge around at will!!
Happy bird watching……….the Turks and Caicos Islands has many species of birds and this is just one of them.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com
A peaceful and calm setting as a lone fisherman wades the lake by Harbour Club Villas.
This evening I caught sight of Paul, one of our bonefishing guests, out in Flamingo Lake. It was a beautiful still evening just made for some bonefishing.
Someone else was also looking for fish as a Green Heron perched on a dead branch to view the lake waters.
The Green Heron finds a tasty snack in the waters of the lake.
I know the heron was sucessful in finding food but I'm not sure if Paul caught any bonefish?
Evenings are a great time to catch some of our water birds and to see bonefish tailing in the lake.
Marta
Last night we had a late night visitor at Harbour Club Villas.......this Yellow-crowned Night Heron surprised our guests.
Low tide at Blue Hills shows a night heron searching for something to eat.
Close up of a night heron.............the tide was out and he was probably looking for crabs.
Doesn't look like there's any fish here!!!
The Green Heron is one of the smallest herons in the Turks and Caicos Islands and this one keeps coming back to our pool. He has made himself at home and complains loudly when guests disturb him. It’s local name is the “Kow Kow” because of the loud call he makes. Birdwatchers and birders enjoy the variety of birds they can see around Harbour Club Villas.
Birdwatching is great in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Marta