Punk Outfit
A mature black-crowned night heron on Doughnut Island, shortly after finishing the migration north.
Heron Tree
A baker’s dozen of 13 black-crowned night herons perch on the Heron Tree, where the first migratory group always lands every year. Here’s the same tree back in 2011.
October Juvenile
A juvenile black-crowned night heron perches in a tree on Doughnut Island. I haven’t seen night herons for a while now, it’s surprising to see juveniles still here.
Red Eye Delight
The piercing red eye of a mature black-crowned night heron, perched in a tree by Doughnut Island.
Moon Heron II
A black-crowned night heron stands in perfect silhouette against reflected light from the rising full moon.
Moon Heron
A black-crowned night heron perches on a rock off of the boardwalk around 9:00PM, bathed in the dappled light of a rising full moon.
Numero Uno
The first black-crowned night heron to return to the Islands in 2012, two days earlier than the first arrivals in 2011.
Dr. Tongue
A mature black-crowned night heron licks its bill after successfully spearing a fish for lunch. Click image to view larger.
Night Reflections
An adolescent black-crowned night heron hunts for fish, reflected perfectly in the calm waters of the lagoon at almost 10:00pm.
Heron Pose
The camera turns night into day as an adolescent black-crowned night heron hunts on a log at almost 10:00pm, head down, standing motionless for minutes at a time waiting for fish to swim by.
Herons For Jimmy
Recently reminiscing of the days of his youth (which were, when, last week?), Jimmy Jones recently commented that he was seeing fewer black-crowned night herons gracing our local lagoons (read: between Ward’s and Snake). Their numbers are certainly traditionally higher down Doughnut-way, but as if on cue several herons came out today just to remind […]
Reverse Snowbird
In town for the season, this black-crowned night heron has probably left the stifling heat of a Florida summer just in time for things to finally warm up here in Toronto.
Coniferous Perch
One of the first black-crowned night herons to return to the Toronto Islands in 2011 perches in snug harbour in this distant twilight shot.
Baker’s Dozen
One of the lovely things about living on a major migratory route is seeing the migrations happen: large groups of birds travelling long distances together. When they first arrive here on the Islands, they often remain together for a week or two before splitting up to build their nests. Flocks of 50 blackbirds at a […]
Rude Awakening
Startled from its nap, an early black-crowned night heron waits for the photographer to leave so it can get back to some serious sleeping.
Late for the Party
An adolescent black-crowned night heron clings to an IYC tree in November, 2009. By this time of year all of the herons are gone, migrating south to sunnier climes. Perfectly able to fly, its a mystery why this fellow hung on so late in the season.
Backlight Perch
A black-crowned night heron perches on a branch near Forestry Island, interrupted from its fishing by a certain photographer interloper.
Day for Night
A juvenile black-crowned night heron, like this one photographed earlier, fishes along the shoreline of Doughnut island’s Three Fingers.
Catnap
One of my favourite things about kayak-based photography: you can be completely silent. Here a black-crowned night heron naps the afternoon away, beak tucked in wing, completely undisturbed and unaware that I’m even there.
Black-crowned Regality
A black-crowned night heron perches like royalty on a branch near Centre Island early in 2008.
Marked
One of the first black-crowned night herons to return to the Toronto Islands in 2008 was the first – and so far still the only – night heron that I’ve seen banded, someone’s program somewhere is tracking this guy. If anyone has any information as to the program, please contact me.
Red Return
One of the first black-crowned night herons to return in 2008 near Doughnut Island, looking very well fed after its long migration.
