Red and Green at the Botanic Garden

December 15, 2014

Cool and overcast and there is another storm coming our way. Decided to go and get some holiday flower shots at the San Diego Botanic Garden today.

It was already afternoon by the time I arrived at the San Diego Botanic Garden. It always looks so festive this time of the year with all the lights and decorations. You will notice lots of beautiful poinsettias placed all over the gardens like this one I photographed by the walkway near the entrance.

Everything looked festive with red and green decorations. Even the red fish in the tiny lily pond by the gift shop...

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet was fluttering around on the Coral tree. This is a male with the bright ruby colored crown... but until he raises his crown feathers you can only see a slight hint of the bright color plumage hidden under his drabby gray feathers.

Here he faces us with a tiny bit of red showing at the top of his poll.

But the Coral tree has plenty of color of its own.

Nice side view the the Kinglet.

I was hoping for another display of his crown feathers but he didn't cooperate today.

And off he goes... 

A female Allen's Hummingbird also likes the bright red flowers and of course the nectar that she finds in them.

It is wonderful to see so many hummingbirds in this beautiful garden. I hope to find a nest or two this nesting season.

Red flowers everywhere...

Walking towards the children's garden, I spot a Western Scrub Jay. This landscape really looks like winter.

Back to the Greenery... a Townsend's Warbler makes an appearance near the Flamingo Dancer statues.

This is a male Townsend's Warbler. Only males have the black throat. The females have yellow on their throat.

The speckled drab olive green color on his back really shows up in this shot.

For everyone that is still looking to see the Varied Thrush, they are still here. This is a shot of the female on the Cork Oak tree.

I also spotted the male Varied Thrush nearby. They are still hanging out on the southwest side of the gazebo on the Cork Oak trees.

More red flowers... this one is called Catalina Island Snapdragon. It is one of the native California plants found on the Channel Islands. The flowers are quite scarce this time of the year.

Walking over to the large lily pond I spot a Green Heron and I immediately slowed my walk and carefully seated my self on a rock next to the pond. The Heron looked but kept hunting. Soon, he had himself a nice little fish. 

Within seconds, he grabs another one. It was as if he had a school of them in one area. I observe something that I have read about but never witnessed... the Green Heron picks up what looked like a white piece of bread from the area he was fishing and walks over to another spot and drops it back in the water. A bird that uses "bait" to fish!

Green Heron is one of those birds that uses a "tool" to attract fish. He has found something to use as "bait" and is taking it across the way to another spot to attract fish.That's why he caught several fish in one place.  It was baited and he was all ready for them. What a incredible bird!

He is looking for another good fishing spot to throw out his bait...

He drops his bait and waits...

There is quite a bit of activity going on behind him. A ambulance has pulled up about 30 feet away and there are ground workers directing the ambulance and now the first responders are here. Approximately two paramedics and two firemen working on someone about 13 feet behind the Green Heron. But the area is thick with bamboo and other plants. I am sitting as still as possible on the large rock but I do have a little view of the the first responders from the waist up and only when they stand up straight. They are so efficient and quiet that the Green Heron doesn't appear to be bothered by the activity going on behind him. I hope that the person who needed their help will be ok.

The activity with the paramedics gets a little closer as they walk a few feet east of the pond with the stretcher. The Heron freezes for a while and then decides to get back to fishing. He knows I am here sitting on the rock across the pond but I think he is used to photographers.

 

He moves slowly... making sure all is clear and safe for him to hunt again.  

Checking on his bait... he appears to see something interesting.

I love this walk... This is the classic Green Heron walk!

  

He is focused on getting a meal. Looks like he spots something in front.

Oh my goodness, as quick as a blink, he is in the water and all I got of the plunge was this shot.  He is too close and stretched out to fit into the camera frame!  A close-up of his wings.

The Green Heron has himself a huge tadpole! I have never seen one this big before.

Walks out of the pond.

Here is a close-up of the tadpole.

He gets ready to swallow his prey.

  

Maneuvers the prey so the head is towards the throat.

It looks a little slippery... With one toss of his beak, it is gobbled up and swallowed.

He puffs up after swallowing the prey. I have noticed that many birds shake-out or puff up right after they swallow their prey.

Nice show of his raised crown feathers.

All back to normal and looking fit and healthy and full. It's been great to see the heron at the lily pond again. Time for me to head for home.

Have a nice day everyone.