29 Aug 2009
Photo of the Day – Bird Watching
Arizona Photography, Phoenix Area Photography 2 Comments
I am not sure which bird on this list this particular guy might be. I’m also not sure if I was watching him or he was watching me. But I caught this shot at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, AZ very early this morning. The bird life in this urban refuge is abundant and the photograph opportunities are great. But aside from a camera you need to bring two things if you are going to the Preserve – bug spray and patience. Being wetlands the bugs are out in full force and you need the patience if you want more than some nice snap shots of the wildlife.
9-9-11 – Update: Thanks to Mark Larson, President of the Maricopa Audubon Society, this bird has finally been identified. He is “…an adult Green Heron, a common species in most of North America.” Thank you Mr. Larson. And for future reference there is a guide on the Society’s website to help identify Arizona birds.
Mark W. Larson
on September 9 2011
Mike,
This bird is an adult Green Heron, a common species in most of North America. I’ve even seen it in Costa Rica and Panama where it begins to be replaced by a South American species called the Striated Heron.
I almost always see them at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve and I agree with you that the Preserve is a great place to observe water birds, especially in winter when there is an abundance of waterfowl.
Best regards,
Mark
Mark W. Larson
President
MARICOPA AUDUBON SOCIETY
Mike
on September 9 2011
Mr. Larson,
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and identifying this bird for me. I had been told it was a grackle, but it is great to have an expert ID. I appreciate your time and thank you for reading my blog.
Mike