Purple, Night and Squacco Herons plus Swampies

We managed to find four species of Heron, none of them as numerous as I expected and the Purples were pretty difficult to capture as they were so flighty. Stopping the car was enough to put them on high alert, any movement and they were off.

Not the best of shots but definitely better than none!

With the water levels dropping rapidly the herons were more visible, I think that in the earlier part of the week they were in the reeds feeding, now they had to come out to get to the grub.

This chap stuck out like a sore thumb and I never expected him to hang around once we had drawn up opposite him. He never moved for ages but he was definitely on the hunt, finally managing a catch - not sure what it was - frog or fish. Rather than digest it there he flew to a tree close by on our bank. I crept up on him and,as normal he was right inside, well covered, with another two Night Herons for company.

We had just one Squacco Heron and this is all I managed - perhaps better luck next time.

The Purple Swamphens were great fun, as long as they had a couple of reeds as cover then they totally ignored you. If you came upon them when they were out in the open then they became extremely nervous.