Greenie Fishing | Phil Lanoue Photography

Greenie Fishing

Yesterday afternoon we saw this green heron fishing at the side of the salt marsh. Green herons are colorful, stocky little birds and can be very entertaining to watch as they stealthily stalk their prey along the water’s edge. This guy was apparently quite skillful as we saw him snatch several small fish out of the marsh!

56 thoughts on “Greenie Fishing”

The Wanderlust Gene on April 10, 2013 at 1:04 pm said:

He’s so colourful and acrobatically gawky! A Green Heron? I love him! Lovely shots Phil 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 2:12 pm said:
  
  He is a cute little guy and expert at fishing. Gotta love the greenies!
  Thanks
  
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lylekrahn on April 10, 2013 at 1:15 pm said:

Nice. It sure is fishing in shallow water.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 2:13 pm said:
  
  Yes just at the water’s edge which is how they like it.
  
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zannyro on April 10, 2013 at 1:27 pm said:

Wow! So vibrant!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 2:13 pm said:
  
  They are quite pretty little birds!
  
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janmasyn on April 10, 2013 at 1:29 pm said:

Stunning photo’s Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 2:13 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jan, I love watching these cool little guys.
  
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pixelspielerei on April 10, 2013 at 1:30 pm said:

Oh … oh, oh, oh: On the third picture he is nacked! 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 2:14 pm said:
  
  Ha! I know! He is showing us his bare backside! 😯 😀
  
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  - pixelspielerei on April 10, 2013 at 3:09 pm said:
    
    What a rascal! 🙂
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 4:27 pm said:
      
      So true!
      
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Fergiemoto on April 10, 2013 at 2:41 pm said:

Great captures!
You are fortunate to be able to witness so much bird activity so regularly. This place must be close to where you live.
The bird refuge that I like to visit is a 1-hour drive from my house, so I don’t make it out there near as often as I’d like.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 4:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks I’m glad you liked these greenie photos!
  I live ten mins. away from this area and sometimes we go twice a day! 🙂
  
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Paula on April 10, 2013 at 3:04 pm said:

Flashy legs 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 4:28 pm said:
  
  Oh absolutely! 😮
  
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Chillbrook on April 10, 2013 at 3:21 pm said:

Brilliant Phil. Love this series!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 4:29 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Adrian!
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on April 10, 2013 at 3:33 pm said:

Pretty bird – and as always great photos! I never knew that birds stalked prey at water’s edge – I always assumed they swooped down and scooped out of the water…blonde talking here!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 4:30 pm said:
  
  These greenies are different then a lot of birds, they are one of the few ones that will actually use bait (such as small bugs) to lure in and catch fish!
  Thanks for checking these out!
  
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dinajohnston on April 10, 2013 at 4:09 pm said:

Pretty colors! They strike the funniest poses. You caught it perfect.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 10, 2013 at 4:31 pm said:
  
  There are comical and entertaining to watch! Thanks for looking!
  
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Scott Marshall on April 10, 2013 at 4:46 pm said:

Okay the first shot just made my favourite of yours – instantly grabbed me the poise and colour – impending action…

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:08 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Scott, glad you enjoyed seeing the little greenie in action.
  
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  - Scott Marshall on April 11, 2013 at 3:17 pm said:
    
    #1 Phil you have to better Greenie – quiet a challenge
    
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edithlevyphotography on April 10, 2013 at 7:43 pm said:

These are fantastic. He’s a cute little guy.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:08 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much and I agree, he is a cute little guy. 🙂
  
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Amy on April 10, 2013 at 8:00 pm said:

Beautiful colors! Love this little guy. Thank you, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:08 pm said:
  
  Thank you Amy, they are really fun to watch and photograph!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on April 10, 2013 at 8:22 pm said:

That has to be the wildest posing I’ve ever seen. Is this the guy that knows how to fish for a fish?

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:10 pm said:
  
  The green herons are one of the only birds that will use bait to lure in and catch a fish. I have photos in my files somewhere of one dropping a bug into the water as a bait. it worked! 🙂
  
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  - reglade michel on May 29, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:
    
    Dear Phil Lanoue,
    I’m a french ornithologist and I’m trying to work on this behaviour. Could you get in touch with me about your observation, please?
    Thank you.
    
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Gunta on April 10, 2013 at 8:57 pm said:

The pose in the first two shots made me think Road Runner…

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:10 pm said:
  
  They do have sort of zippy looking legs! 🙂
  
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suburbanferndaleark on April 10, 2013 at 9:26 pm said:

Wow –you could see the determination and focus on his face from the start! Wonderful series.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:11 pm said:
  
  Oh these guys get *very* focused on what they are doing. And they are experts at it too!
  Thanks for looking!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on April 10, 2013 at 11:29 pm said:

It is good to see the community at the marsh expanding with returnees.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:12 pm said:
  
  Thanks Charlie and we feel the same, we were happy to see tricolor herons in breeding plumage recently along with these greenies.
  
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Utasflow on April 11, 2013 at 9:08 am said:

At first glance, it looks like he ist already diving. Such dynamic in his body! 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:13 pm said:
  
  Green herons are very focused and are at experts at fishing, they are fun and amazing to watch!
  
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Mary Gilmartin on April 11, 2013 at 10:26 am said:

Great photographs and remind me Cornell’s Lab of Orthinology where “The Great Herons” are back: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:13 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for looking!
  
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adinparadise on April 11, 2013 at 2:56 pm said:

Wow, this is a very colourful heron, and he’s very good at his game, great photos, Phil. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on April 11, 2013 at 3:13 pm said:
  
  He is a cute colorful little guy and really knows how to snag those fish!
  Thanks a bunch Sylvia!
  
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Maggie Davey on April 11, 2013 at 4:18 pm said:

What lovely colours! I love your info about the heron using a bug to catch fish – clever, as well as beautiful!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 12, 2013 at 5:03 pm said:
  
  They are pretty and colorful birds and quite intelligent as well!
  
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niasunset on April 11, 2013 at 4:24 pm said:

so beautiful… fascinated me again. Thanks and Love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on April 12, 2013 at 5:03 pm said:
  
  Thank you Nia, I’m very happy you like these photos!
  
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Dusty Roads on April 12, 2013 at 8:54 am said:

Wonderful detail. Beautiful 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on April 12, 2013 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much I appreciate it.
  
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FeyGirl on April 12, 2013 at 9:36 am said:

Wonderful captures, love them! I’m always so entranced by their hunting, such FOCUS.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 12, 2013 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  Thanks a bunch! They are very interesting to watch and their fishing technique is rather unique and clever.
  
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Molly Argo on April 12, 2013 at 9:57 pm said:

Great photos of one of my favorite little birds! I’m glad that you mentioned the fact of how they fish. I am not sure how many other birds do this, but it is amazing to watch them. I have seen them take bread and use it to bait fish.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 13, 2013 at 11:55 am said:
  
  They are very interesting and clever little birds and so colorful and fun to watch!
  
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Katariina Partala on April 15, 2013 at 3:14 am said:

What a funny fishing technique he has!!! 😀

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theforagingphotographer on April 17, 2013 at 4:02 am said:

Amazing colours Phil.

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