at the water

Water is important to birds and others. Walking to and from work this past week I've spotted various birds, and another passer-by, at the water in the park at the College Park metro. The adult green heron has apparently raised some kids who learned a bit too well: the young and older herons occasionally arrive at the pond at the same time, and when that happens there's fireworks. The adult doesn't like it at all when the youngsters show up, and he (she?) tries to run them off into the woods beside the creek. Occasionally they are satisfied with the creek, but sometimes they keep coming back around to the pond. Once in a while, the young one wins, but usually the adult has the pond until he wants to leave.

The young herons in the trees by the creek disturb the barn swallows (I don't know why - do herons go after nestlings? Swallow nestlings would be small enough for a heron to swallow, that's for sure.) The swallows get disturbed a lot - perhaps nesting in a culvert isn't such a good idea? They generally only perch in trees across the pond - but I got one sitting where a heron had been until the harassing of the swallows had made him leave. Most of the swallows are barn swallows, but I've seen a few banks swallows, and one mystery guy with a white-edged tail (an Eastern Kingbird, of course!) . And of course, the creek isn't only for the herons and swallows to fight over. Pics below:

an immature green heron in a tree, where he was chased


the immature green heron

the immature green heron

an immature heron settle by the creek

young heron in the creek

one heron chasing another one away from the pond

the young heron enjoys his momentary triumph

the adult green heron, the usual winner

the green heron in the pond

young heron in a tree too near the swallows

a swallow resting in a tree he'd driven a heron out of

three swallows in a willow by the pond

mystery swallow Eastern Kingbird landing in willow

mystery swallow Eastern Kingbird in the willow

a crow drinking at the creek

a mockingbird at the creek

a sparrow on a sand bank

the geese have returned

a raccoon in the creek, who annoyed the barn swallows who nest in the culvert he's heading for

a trumpet flower floating down the creek