Least Bittern Bird – Long Legged Waders – 4/26/2013

The Least Bittern was photographed at the Cameron Prairie Wildlife Refuge in Bell City, Louisiana.

Select this link to see an album of photos of the Least Bittern, next select slideshow

The Least Bittern is a small thin bright buff brown Heron with a dark brown top and yellow legs. It has a range from southeastern Canada and eastern half of United States to northeastern Argentina. Its diet is mostly fish and insects. They move slowly through dense marsh grass, and are not easy to flush or to be seen. It climbs about in cattails, reeds, and other aquatic plants, clinging to the stems with its long toes.

Select this link to see Cameron Prairie National Refuge photos

 

 

Purple Gallinule Bird – Swimmers – 8/2/2016

The adult Purple Gallinule photos were taken at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Louisiana.

The juvenile Purple Gallinule photos were also taken at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Purple Gallinule

The adult Purple Gallinule is very colorful with head and underparts a violet-purple, back a bronzy green, bill red with a yellow tip, legs yellow, and with a blue forehead shield. It has long legs. The juvenile Purple Gallinule is a drab brown above, pale below, bill brown, and with yellow legs. It has a range of southeast United States to Argentina. It has a habitat of fresh swamps, and ponds. It eats a wide variety of plants, seeds, and fruits, and small animals such as insects, frogs, snails, spiders, worms, and fish. It usually walks on floating vegetation or climbs through brush rather than swimming. It also climbs bushes.

Select this link to see where the Purple Gallinule photos were taken

 

Neotropic (Olivaceous) Cormorant Bird – Swimmers – 4/26/2013

The Neotropic Cormorant was photographed at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Bell City, Louisiana.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Neotropic Cormorant

The Neotropic Cormorant is a large blackish water bird with a slender bill with hooked tip, a narrow white mask on the face, and may strike a spread-eagle pose. It has a range around the Gulf of Mexico, coastal Texas, and southwest Louisiana at the Cameron Parish. It has a habitat of tidal waters and lakes near the Gulf coasts. Their diet is fish and crustaceans. They swim low in the water with the bill tilted up at an angle.

 

 

Blue Winged Teal Bird – Swimmers – 4/26/2013

The male Blue-Winged Teal was photographed at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Bell City, Louisiana

The female Blue-Winged Teal. Both the male and female were photographed at the same time and place.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Blue Winged Teal

The male Blue-Winged Teal is mottled brown having a dark head with a white facial crescent, and a chalky blue patch on the forewing when it can be seen. The female Blue-Winged Teal is mottled brown with a chalky blue patch on the forewing when it can be seen. It has a range of Canada to the southern United States. It has a habitat in shallow fresh ponds and marshes. It feeds mainly on seeds and plant material. It seldom upends and feeds away from the water. It forages in shallow water, gleaning items from the surface or swimming forward with head partly submerged.

 

Yellow Crowned Night Heron Bird – Long Legged Waders – 4/26/2013

This Yellow-Crowned Night Heron was photographed at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Bell City, Louisiana.

This Yellow-Crowned Night Heron was photographed in San Antonio, Texas on the River walk.

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

The Yellow-Crowned Heron is a gray heron with a black head with a white cheek patch and crown. It has speckled wings and back, long yellow legs, and a stout bill. It has a range of the east and gulf coast and southern United States. It has a habitat of cypress swamps, mangroves, bayous, marshes, and stream. It feeds on crustaceans, mainly crabs and crayfish. It is a more solitary and secretive bird.

 

Least Bittern Heron Bird – Long legged Waders – 4/26/2013

The smallest Heron, the Least Bittern, was photographed at the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge in Bell City, Louisiana

Select this link to see photos or a slideshow of the Least Bittern Heron

Select this link to see Cameron Prairie National Refuge photos

The Least Bittern is a small thin bright buff brown Heron with a dark brown top and yellow legs. It has a range from southeastern Canada and eastern half of United States to northeastern Argentina. Its diet is mostly fish and insects. They move slowly through dense marsh grass, and are not easy to flush or to be seen. It climbs about in cattails, reeds, and other aquatic plants, clinging to the stems with its long toes.