Heron Fishing

A great Blue Heron fishing from the edge of a reservoir.

The great blue heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America and Central America, as well as the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands.

Largest of the North American herons with long legs, a sinuous neck, and thick, daggerlike bill. Head, chest, and wing plumes give a shaggy appearance. In flight, the Great Blue Heron curls its neck into a tight “S” shape; its wings are broad and rounded and its legs trail well beyond the tail. Great Blue Herons appear blue-gray from a distance, with a wide black stripe over the eye. In flight, the upper side of the wing is two-toned: pale on the forewing and darker on the flight feathers. Hunting Great Blue Herons wade slowly or stand statue-like, stalking fish and other prey in shallow water or open fields.

It’s true that most great blue herons migrate to warmer climates in winter, but a few will remain far to the north, especially where some open water gives them access to fish, frogs and other aquatic prey. If the water is temporarily frozen, they may survive by catching mice and other small animals. Staying north is a gamble that doesn’t always end well for these lingering birds, but on the other hand, they avoid the perils of migration by remaining where they are.

The great blue heron is the largest heron species in North America, standing about 4 feet tall. But even though they are large birds, they don’t weigh much (only 5 to 6 pounds), thanks to their light, hollow bones (a trait most birds have). The male and female look almost exactly the same. On average, males are a little larger with longer ornamental plumes.

Nests vary widely. A first-year nest may be only 20 inches across. Others, used repeatedly for many years, can reach 4 feet in diameter and nearly as deep. A great blue heron colony might have more than 500 nests.

Herons fly as fast as 30 mph. With a lightning fast strike, herons easily nab fish or frogs for a meal.

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Disclaimer

My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants and mushrooms are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Chipping Sparrow Nesting

Chipping Sparrow in her nest amongst the clematis vines.

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Harvesting Wild Reishi Mushrooms

Look At The Gift I Was Given Yesterday

 Red Reishi Mushrooms

Look At The Lovely Gift I Was Given Yesterday! Red Reishi mushrooms have long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Reishi mushrooms help the immune system, suppresses tumor growth and is a therapeutic aid for cancer treatment. Reishi mushrooms can help protect against seizures and stroke, and potentially help treat Huntington’s disease, a serious degenerative brain disorder that affects muscles, memory and behavior patterns. Reishi appears to work on the pathways that regulate the energy centers of brain cells.

Tiny Green Assassin Bug Nymph

This tiny Pale Green Assassin bug (in nymph phase) landed on me and it had tiny crystals on it's legs and antenae. And, Yes, that is what my skin looks like on a microscopic level.

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Downtown Fun

                                                     Dougal & His Baby

Dougal, a Scottish Sheep Dog & His Baby.

A new friend I met at the Farmers Market.

Spring At City Hall

City Hall seen through the blooming trees.
This photo was Awarded Photo of the Day on Capture My Vermont, for May 22, 2018.                                

Jump!

The things you see on Church Street. This little boy was getting a kick out of jumping off this rock, over and over, again. I'll bet his dad's arms were getting tired and sore.

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Spring Flowers

Bees Are Loving The Cherry Blossoms

Magnolias

I love the white against such a blue sky and am amazed how blue the sky looks.

Under A Flowering Tree
Under The Canopy Of Flowering Trees At City Hall Park

How can we stop the city cutting these gorgeous trees down?

Stamens Galore

Tree Blooming this spring. Stamens are the male fertilizing organ of a flower, typically consisting of a pollen-containing anther and a filament. Can you tell me what kind of tree this is?

Spring On Campus

Little Girl Playing With Crabapple Blossom Flower Petals

This photo has been awarded the Photo of the Day on Capture My Vermont for June 7, 2018.

Cranes Bill Geranium

Lily Of The Valley 1

Coral Peony

Paeonia 'Coral Sunset' (Peony)

Blooming Strawberries

Flowers on my strawberries after a rain. Just ate my first ripe one yesterday, Yum!

Bleeding Hearts, also known as Dicentra, Lamprocapnos spectabilis (bleeding heart or Asian bleeding-heart), is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae, native to Siberia, northern China, Korea and Japan.

Black Locust Tree In Bloom 

Robinia pseudo acacia. Another common name is false acacia. In the early summer, black locust flowers appear in large, intensely fragrant clusters. In the family Fabaceae, the beautiful, fragrant flowers look very much like any sweet pea. Just about the entire tree is useful in some way including the flowers. Black Locust flowers are edible and taste like fresh sweet peas. They are made into fritters in America, Europe and Asia. You can eat them fresh in salads. The white flowers are also made into tea. Planted in France, it is the source of that country's Acacia Monofloral Honey even though it is not an Acacia. In fact the Black Locus actually produces more honey than the Honey Locust. In Europe, the honey made from its flowers is known as acacia honey. This tree has a strong connection with the bee people and is a major source of nectar in the United States. In Japan the flowers are battered and fried, while in Romania, a fragrant, delicate jam is made from the blossoms. You can also brew with them and use them in meads and wines. You need to be careful with these flowers, the flowers themselves and the tiny stems around them are fine to eat, but the rest of the plant, including its leaves, is toxic. You can serve them: In salads, especially with mint, As a garnish for a pea soup, On ice cream, Add to lemonade, Infuse custard, In a cake batter, or In pancakes with a little elderflower cordial poured over. In folk medicine, Black Locust was used as, an astringent, cholagogue, diuretic, emetic, emollient, laxative, Poison, protisticidal, purgative, sedative, tonic, and vircidal, black locust is a folk remedy for dyspepsia and spasms. Cherokee used the plant as an emetic and for toothache. It's known as a healing tree, for its uses as a reclamation species for its fast growth, durable wood, edible flowers. and soil stabilizing qualities. Though it has formidable thorns in its youth, it is a healer of damaged land. Black Locust is a nitrogen fixer, it is adaptable to a wide variety of climates and soil conditions and is tolerant of drought. Locust's real claim to fame however is it's incredibly durable, rot-resistant wood. It is known as the strongest in North America.

MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ELISECREATIONS.ARTFIRE.COM

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!

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Daffodils Gone Wild

 Daffodils Gone Wild
I found these growing wild in the woods.

Daffodils (Narcissus) may be the most popular of all spring-blooming bulbs. The classic is the yellow daffodil, with its big ruffled trumpet. These spring-flowering bulbs multiply quickly and return to bloom year after year. They are not fussy about soil, will grow in sun or shade and are not bothered by deer and other critters. Though yellow is by far the most common color for daffodils, the flowers also come in white, cream, orange and even pink. There are many different flower styles, including trumpets, doubles, split-cups, short cups and miniatures.

Narcissus is the Latin name or botanical name for all daffodils, and daffodil is the common name for all members of the genus Narcissus. The American Daffodil Society recommends the name daffodil except for scientific writing. Often confused with the use of narcissus and daffodil is the term jonquil, which is a specific type of daffodil with dark green leaves and clusters of several small and fragrant flowers, different from the daffodil's one flower and flat leaves.

MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH ELISECREATIONS.ARTFIRE.COM

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.