White faced Heron

WHITE FACED HERON Ardea novaehollandiae 

They are a very common bird but oh so elegant.They stand so straight and hold their heads erect, just as our mothers told us to do.

This individual was very sleek looking, smooth and shining grey. During the breeding season the herons show longish plumes on the back and the neck. The plumes on the neck and breast will also be grey with a rufous tinge.

The voice to our ears, is harsh and grating; aarrrkk, aarrrkk with croaks and grunts. Not the most pleasant voice in the choir.








                    



  

                                                                                    
   
This bird was hunting in the shallows around the edge of the Kilmore Hospital Reservoir, evening of a very hot day. It is a little hard to see but the creature caught was small yabby, which the heron carried a little distance onto the bank, before swallowing it it.