Recently Green Herons (Butorides virescens) have been more numerous than in the past at my local marshland park. Most of the time these little herons are obscured by the vegetation at the water’s edge or by the branches of the trees in which they like to roost.
Early one morning last week, however, I watched one of them stalking potential prey from a log in an open area. The little heron seemed focused, but relaxed. From time to time the Green Heron would become more alert and rigid and he would stare more intently at the water.
On this occasion, they were all false alarms and I didn’t see him catch anything for breakfast. Eventually he seemed to give up and flew off, presumably to a better location for catching something to eat.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Nice shots. I see these birds occasionally but have never gotten close enough to get a photo of one.
I’ve been fortunate a few times, like this one, to be able to get some unobstructed shots. In some ways I like these little guys even more than their bigger brothers the Great Blue Herons.
No neck birds. These are great shots, Mike. Don’t you wish they would just relax and stretch out that neck once in a while?
I’ve seen them stretch their necks, but not often. They almost look like different birds when they do so.