a surprise bird i have never seen, plus a few more recent pictures
p.1 #1 a surprise bird i have never seen, plus a few more recent pictures
i was recently at kankakee wildlife area on a beautiful sunny morning seeing the usual wildlife there. i went to one last spot and saw a completely new bird that i had never seen before in 20 yrs of going there. i had to look it up on the internet to identify it. it was a black crowned night heron. the herons i see are usually over 95% great blues with the occasional little green heron. this is the first heron i have seen that you could say had an almost elegant appearance. i waited at least 30 minutes hoping it would stand erect, but it never did. i probably should have opened my van door and stood up quietly. however, i didn't want to frighten the heron. i have not seen it since. it may have been passing through on migration. the bald eagle picture is of an eagle i have photographed before. this time he is facing the morning sun and the tree is leafing out. i hope you enjoy the pictures. comments/criticisms are appreciated.
black crowned hight heron
bald eagle facing the morning sun
blue wing teal pair and common coot sleeping in early morning glow
early morning muskrat portrait
early morning sun light on a common coot
black crowned hight heron
Canon EOS R5 EF600mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III lens 840mm f/7.1 1/800s 3200 ISO 0.0 EV
Canon EOS R5 EF600mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III lens 840mm f/6.3 1/800s 2500 ISO 0.0 EV
Canon EOS R5 EF600mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III lens 840mm f/6.3 1/800s 2000 ISO 0.0 EV
bald eagle facing the morning sun
Canon EOS R5 EF600mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III lens 840mm f/7.1 1/1600s 3200 ISO 0.0 EV
blue wing teal pair and common coot sleeping in early morning glow
Canon EOS R5 EF600mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x III lens 840mm f/6.3 1/1250s 1000 ISO 0.0 EV
early morning muskrat portrait
Canon EOS R7 EF600mm f/4L IS II USM lens 600mm f/4.5 1/1250s 8000 ISO -0.7 EV
early morning sun light on a common coot
Canon EOS R7 EF600mm f/4L IS II USM lens 600mm f/6.3 1/1250s 500 ISO -0.7 EV
May 17, 2026 at 05:28 PM
p.1 #2 a surprise bird i have never seen, plus a few more recent pictures
Good find, and excellent captures, Wendall! I have not seen one in the wild either.
Douglas
Douglas
May 18, 2026 at 04:40 AM
p.1 #3 a surprise bird i have never seen, plus a few more recent pictures
Nice set Wendall with the Bald eagle my faverate. Want to see more night herons, come to Long Island as we have lots of both Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned night heron. Also green herons, Great blue herons and lots of egrets.
Morris
Morris
May 18, 2026 at 05:47 AM
p.1 #4 a surprise bird i have never seen, plus a few more recent pictures
Great find Wendell and nice shots. Hope you get a chance to see the BCNH again as they're fun to photograph on the rare occasion when they're moving around.
Gary
Gary
May 18, 2026 at 07:58 AM
p.1 #5 a surprise bird i have never seen, plus a few more recent pictures
volhoosier wrote:
i was recently at kankakee wildlife area on a beautiful sunny morning seeing the usual wildlife there. i went to one last spot and saw a completely new bird that i had never seen before in 20 yrs of going there. i had to look it up on the internet to identify it. it was a black crowned night heron. the herons i see are usually over 95% great blues with the occasional little green heron. this is the first heron i have seen that you could say had an almost elegant appearance. i waited at least 30 minutes hoping...Show more →
I don't know if you meant it but your description sounds like you don't find great blues or green herons' appearance elegant
Regardless, very cool bird! I think these come up north for breeding season
i was recently at kankakee wildlife area on a beautiful sunny morning seeing the usual wildlife there. i went to one last spot and saw a completely new bird that i had never seen before in 20 yrs of going there. i had to look it up on the internet to identify it. it was a black crowned night heron. the herons i see are usually over 95% great blues with the occasional little green heron. this is the first heron i have seen that you could say had an almost elegant appearance. i waited at least 30 minutes hoping...Show more →
I don't know if you meant it but your description sounds like you don't find great blues or green herons' appearance elegant
Regardless, very cool bird! I think these come up north for breeding seasonMay 18, 2026 at 09:00 AM