Maine to Texas and Back to Wisconsin

Today at the Sheboygan Marsh. Very patient – maybe didn’t think that I saw him. Our largest and heaviest heron, grayish overall (except white in southern Florida). The following day we found a Juvenile Great Blue Heron that was too weak to fly near a pond in Sheboygan Falls. Rescued By Us – Down Likely From Starvation.

In our yard today, resting after a snack in her usual tree. The only hummingbird in our area is the Ruby-throated.

Here’s a few fun facts: Hummingbirds are the only bird that can fly backwards. They weigh less than a nickel. They drink nectar by moving their tongues in and out approximately 13 times per second and they can drink double their body weight in a single day.

Two populations reliably distinguished by multiple plumage differences, but intergrades are common across a very wide area. “Yellow-shafted” (north and east) and “Red-shafted” (west) differ in plumage colors but not in voice or habits. This bird is Yellow-shafted as the yellow feathers are visible in flight mode.

The green heron is relatively small; adult body length is about 44 cm (17 in). The neck is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey underparts and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season. 
The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It often creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, and feathers, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish.

The sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) is a species of large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird refers to habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska‘s Sandhills on the American Great Plains. Sandhill Cranes are known to hang out at the edges of bodies of water, especially in the Central Florida region. The central Platte River valley in Nebraska is the most important stopover area.

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This phenomenon is known as leucism, the partial loss of all types of pigmentation, including carotenoids. Leucism causes white coloration, white patches, spots, or splotches on the skin or fur. Leucism is also discernible from albinism because leucism does not affect the pigment cells in the eyes.

Nikon Z9 with Z800 pf Handheld

Photos with Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 800 f/6.3 Lens