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!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
He’s so colourful and acrobatically gawky! A Green Heron? I love him! Lovely shots Phil 🙂
He is a cute little guy and expert at fishing. Gotta love the greenies!
Thanks
Nice. It sure is fishing in shallow water.
Yes just at the water’s edge which is how they like it.
Wow! So vibrant!
They are quite pretty little birds!
Stunning photo’s Phil.
Thanks Jan, I love watching these cool little guys.
Oh … oh, oh, oh: On the third picture he is nacked! 😉
Ha! I know! He is showing us his bare backside! 😯 😀
What a rascal! 🙂
So true!
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.
Thanks I’m glad you liked these greenie photos!
I live ten mins. away from this area and sometimes we go twice a day! 🙂
Flashy legs 😀
Oh absolutely! 😮
Brilliant Phil. Love this series!
Thanks very much Adrian!
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!
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!
Pretty colors! They strike the funniest poses. You caught it perfect.
There are comical and entertaining to watch! Thanks for looking!
Okay the first shot just made my favourite of yours – instantly grabbed me the poise and colour – impending action…
Thanks very much Scott, glad you enjoyed seeing the little greenie in action.
#1 Phil you have to better Greenie – quiet a challenge
These are fantastic. He’s a cute little guy.
Thanks very much and I agree, he is a cute little guy. 🙂
Beautiful colors! Love this little guy. Thank you, Phil!
Thank you Amy, they are really fun to watch and photograph!
That has to be the wildest posing I’ve ever seen. Is this the guy that knows how to fish for a fish?
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! 🙂
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.
The pose in the first two shots made me think Road Runner…
They do have sort of zippy looking legs! 🙂
Wow –you could see the determination and focus on his face from the start! Wonderful series.
Oh these guys get *very* focused on what they are doing. And they are experts at it too!
Thanks for looking!
It is good to see the community at the marsh expanding with returnees.
Thanks Charlie and we feel the same, we were happy to see tricolor herons in breeding plumage recently along with these greenies.
At first glance, it looks like he ist already diving. Such dynamic in his body! 🙂
Green herons are very focused and are at experts at fishing, they are fun and amazing to watch!
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
Thanks very much for looking!
Wow, this is a very colourful heron, and he’s very good at his game, great photos, Phil. 🙂
He is a cute colorful little guy and really knows how to snag those fish!
Thanks a bunch Sylvia!
What lovely colours! I love your info about the heron using a bug to catch fish – clever, as well as beautiful!
They are pretty and colorful birds and quite intelligent as well!
so beautiful… fascinated me again. Thanks and Love, nia
Thank you Nia, I’m very happy you like these photos!
Wonderful detail. Beautiful 🙂
Thanks very much I appreciate it.
Wonderful captures, love them! I’m always so entranced by their hunting, such FOCUS.
Thanks a bunch! They are very interesting to watch and their fishing technique is rather unique and clever.
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.
They are very interesting and clever little birds and so colorful and fun to watch!
What a funny fishing technique he has!!! 😀
Amazing colours Phil.