Waiting for her partner to return with food for the young one(s).
What's taking him so long?
Here comes one foraging spouse.
Dancing on the branches
Finally gets to the nest.
A female Mallard seems late for an appointment.
A few ducks are in the swampy pond below the heron nests.
The relieved ( in two ways) female leaves to hunt.
A femle purple finch
The male purple finch decides to visit the heron nest
But is convinced by a stern look and a few choice words, to find another place to play.
There are grackles at the pond
And, of course red-wing blackbirds
Someone is getting impatient for Mom to return.
Here she is!
She walks along the branch to the nest.
A quick check and the male is given the "all-clear" to leave.
He does so!
Time to feed the chick. At this stage, they feed regurgitated meat to the little one.
He gobbles it up.
And seems to be asking for more already!
A firm grip on Mom's beak sends the message.
You'll make yourself sick!
That's quite enough for now.
He may not be happy, but he knows that lunch is over for now.
An interesting sequence to see how agile those big feet are on tiny branches.
Touchdown secured!
For big birds, they are quite agile in the air too.
Her official Portrait
A rear-carriage view... beautiful in its apparent clumsiness.
A kingbird enjoys the variety of insects available for the buffet.
That sharp beak is very effective at taking prey in midair.
