“There Has To Be A Fish In There Somewhere…”
Lately the marsh pond has become inundated with widgeon grass, which is a submerged plant that is able to grow and thrive in brackish water. This aquatic plant provides a habitat in which many small invertebrates can grow, which in turn provide food for birds and alligators, that’s the good part. However, the grass can also cause fits for some of the wading birds who invariably come up with a beak full of grass along with their fish. This morning we saw a tricolored heron in exactly that predicament. The bird got his fish but needed to hold on to the fish as it separated out the grass and dropped it back into the water while keeping control of the small wriggling fish.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Great photos. I especially like the 3rd one. The light on the fish and bird are perfect.
Thanks very much Jeff I appreciate it.
Incredible creatures…love your really great photos.
I appreciate that very much Charlie, thanks!
Quite a tricky operation, Phil. You both did a great job. 🙂 Happy 4th July to you and yours.
Thanks very much Sylvia and we enjoyed a nice quiet FoJ. I made crab cakes! 🙂
We did not however, invite any of those pesky alligators over for the festivities.
A very skilled fisher-heron to be sure. A mouth full of widgeon grass probably is not all that tasty. Glad the heron got the fish.
He is doing a good job plucking anything out of that fairly thick widgeon grass for sure Steve. It looked like hard work.
Just a little salad with his fish dinner!
I think our little tri would have passed on the side salad this time if he had the choice, the greens were too stringy. 🙂
Not an easy operation without an opposable thumb I would think. Seems he didn’t like the salad.
This looked like a lot of work for a little fish breakfast and he surely did not appreciate the garnish.
Excellent.
Thanks a bunch!
Not everyone likes Fish with a side dish of salad! 😛
I’m sure the little tri complained to the chef that the salad was too tough to chew. 🙂
Nice photos! Clever bird, too. Is the grass invasive or just seasonal?
I’m happy you liked these photos Deb! This is the worst I have seen the grass in years. I suspect it has to do with the level of salt in the pond dropping due to it being diluted with rain water. A higher salt content (which comes in from the salt marsh) would keep down the weeds. It may be with us until winter kills it off, then next year who knows?
The ducks like to eat it but we don’t have any ducks this time of year and besides we would need approx. 60,000 ducks to make a dent in the grass. 🙂
Thanks for that explanation. I’m sure you wouldn’t want 60,000 ducks to descend upon your neighborhood! 🙂
I’m betting 60,000 ducks would make a heck of a racket. 😀
Everybody thought the same thing, salad with their fish. Seems the heron would rather have just the meat portion of dinner. I enjoyed the photos and also learned something – widgeon grass.
I’m happy you enjoyed the photos and the story of our weed filled pond.
The alligators do not like the grass and an unhappy alligator is no good for anybody.
Life is tough and then it turns up all grass.
It’s particularly tough for the alligators who are used to doing a slow glide along clear water using only a little tail motion to propel them. Now they have to slog through this mess using their legs. Too much work.
Adept, as well as beautiful! The lighting is fantastic – great pictures, Phil!
Thanks so much Maggie, I’m really happy you enjoyed these!
Great shots Phil, glad the heron got what he wants, his fish. 🙂
He was happy but it’s a lot of work for the bird with all that grass in there.
Great shots of this beautiful bird!