In the Great Blue with a Fishing Heron

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This is a familiar sight along the shores of Canada's west coast. There are colonies of great blue herons nearby, and one can see (and sometimes hear) them when they're out and about. They're mostly silent, though from time to time, they emit a loud squawk. They use twigs and sticks to build their nests on trees, which are usually located in wetlands and marine habitats. Typically, they'll lay 2-4 eggs in 1-2 broods through the February-August season. While their primary food is fish and frogs, they're known to eat duckling and small mammals (Bird, 2016).

As you may have seen, the heron in this video caught a small fish that appeared to be coming on the waves. There are actually two videos, but I botched the transition, so if the video jumps, keep watching to see the strike. Notice how the heron lowers its neck and strikes at the wave. I was lucky to be recording it when it happened. Their patience is saintly and seemingly infinite. They're truly a joy to see but you have to be patient yourself if you want to see them in action.

Resources

Bird, David M (Editor). 2016. Pocket Birds of Canada.