Green Heron at Golden Arches

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In previous posts I told you about K-Mart Creek that runs along an old vacated K-Mart building.  That same creek, which is actually an arroyo, skirts along behind a Firestone Tire Store.  From there it crosses under Southwest Blvd. and flows behind a McDonalds Restaurant.  It was there, after breakfast yesterday morning, that as we were leaving, Ann and I spotted this Green Heron walking along looking for crayfish, or ‘crawdads‘ as they are sometimes called here.  As you can see in the third photo he caught his Happy Meal.

Green Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron with crayfish

In all, I captured about 50 images of the hunt.  During that time I watched him eat about three of those morsels.  I left him alone after that, thinking that someday I might see him in the drive-thru.

As a side note, did you know that vultures have their own fast food place?  It is called ‘Carrion Carry-out” 🙂  (I just had to toss that in.)

Click on any of the images to see enlargements.  By the way, I captured all three with my Canon EOS 7D and 100-400mm lens.  I had left the car and walked along the opposite bank.  Also, they were photographed in RAW and these images are otherwise untouched except for minor sharpening and cropping.

42 thoughts on “Green Heron at Golden Arches”

  1. Awesome captures and great narrative, you did make me laugh! Just as your “KMart Creek” and my “Walmart Pond”, you just never know what you might find when taking the time to look!

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  6. This is s a stunny photo of the green heron. I am curious about the first photo. Do you think the heron might have a nest in what appears to be a small cave or hole in the bank? Very interesting photos indeed.

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    • Thank you for the kind words, Snowbird. That hole is just a washed out place in the bank of the arroyo. Actually, the heron was further back when I first spotted him and he was just walking past that hole when I started shooting. I hope you will visit again.

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      • I most certainly will visit your posts again. It is a great joy to me to be able to see the natural world through the lens of photographers… and your blog is marvelous. Many thanks. Merrill

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        • Many thanks, Merrill. I usually post 3-4 times per week, but I have slowed for a few days as I am also working on a book. But stay tuned…….:-)

  10. Great shot..your dialogue is great..our battle continues with Wal-mart coming to our small mountain town and we have a lake very close by??? Maybe our herons here will find their lunches?? have a great week end and thanks for sharing..

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  12. The groan factor was high in this post, but the photos made up for it!! I love this bird and just am amazed at the places you find birds. May have to add bird-magnet to your titles.

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  13. So much so close to home, you lucky man. Green herons are beautiful, although one of my friend’s thinks that they look evil. Great catch for both of you.

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  17. The crawdad doesn’t look to happy to have become a meal. Excellent shots, but then yours always do blow me away! There’s a pair of green herons here, but I haven’t been able to get close enough to them for a good shot this year.

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