Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek

Taking a cue from its mother (seen here), this juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron has taken to a tree at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama, where it remained until any semblance of danger passed.

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Fishing for Crawdads

Yellow Crowned Night Heron fishing for Crawdad at Black Creek Park

This juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron spent much of his morning flitting from one part to another of Black Creek at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama.

   After a while I had begun to think this heron's meanderings were almost entirely purposeless, but I was wrong. He was in search of a good fishing hole. Upon spying one, he got very still, and suddenly struck, quick as lightning, and successfully surfaced with a plump crawdad.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Taking Flight

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron Taking Flight
Black Creek Park, Fultondale, Alabama

This juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron spent much of his morning stalking the shallow waters of Black Creek at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama. And I spent a good part of my morning stalking him and his kin.

He spent much time wondering from place to place on the creek, with seemingly no purpose at all, and apparently indifferent to my clambering around shrubs and low tree limbs in order to photograph him.

With my Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD lens zoomed to its fullest (which can be a bear on only a monopod since the lens lacks Image Stabilization), I stayed as far away as possible so as not to disturb the young fellow. And as an aside, this focal range will probably be my next upgrade in lenses. The limitations of this model (while counterbalanced by its affordability) rear their ugly head too often for my taste.

More photographs of this and other herons, some of which will subsequently be found on the blog, can be seen at my Fauna Gallery.

Black Creek Park :: Yellow Crowned Night Heron under the Viaduct

At Black Creek Park in Fultondale, there is a family of Yellow Crowned Night Herons, one adult and three juveniles. The youngsters' coloration differs from the adults, as they will grow into the distinctive make-up of the fully gown yellow crowned night heron. This heron is fishing under the viaduct on Black Creek Stream that feeds into Black Creek.

Black Creek Park :: Yellow Crowned Night Heron Stalking the Creek

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron :: Black Creek Park, Fultondale

There are two varieties of night heron found in North America. To the left is a juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron, which can be distinguished from the Black Crowned Night Heron in a number of ways.

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron :: Black Creek Park, Fultondale

The Yellow Crowned Night Heron has a shortish, stubby bill; limited pale markings on its wings; and clearer markings on its underside.

This juvenile is fishing for the small fish that frequents the shallow waters that run along the stony bottom of Black Creek at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama.