Tag: Tricolored Heron

Blue Means it’s Frisky Time

Well, we are in April now and it is time for me to start earning my keep around here – break time is over boys and girls – at least as it pertains to my absence. Big thanks to Brad and Jan for keeping the ball rolling here. The finger issue is still a concern, I just haven’t decided what course of action to take as the three possible options pretty much suck. On the positive side, the ankle continues to improve and now pushing 8 to 9 miles at a run and nearly every day. On the off days rucking the hardest bluff trails in the area for another 7 to 8 miles. Still a long way to go to hit my October goal, but the knee scooter sitting in the corner of the weight room is a constant reminder of the struggle. That isn’t the only progress this month. I’ve been working day and night to get through the spoils of the Texas trip (sheepishly looks down) from last year – I am trying, I am really, really, trying to get caught up. Along with that effort I did get another Halloween tutorial put together – will give a link to that at the end in case you are interested.

Linda: “All I hear is blah blah blah, how about finally getting to the real reason your audience is here!?!” “But my peeps like to know what I’m up to…“See that blue billed thingy right there, get to it, pronto!“

Tricolored Heron found at High Island Rookery, Texas in April 2024

That sound you just heard is the Intrigued CEO putting her foot down ha! How about we get to Little “Bird” Blue right after the jump.

Continue reading Blue Means it’s Frisky Time

Feather Tiara…by Brad Marks

Greetings all. I am a bit behind on a rather length (ever expanding) to-do list. I did have my MRI this week, but I am unable to get into the surgeon until the 17th to get the official readout. Should I be concerned that immediately after the procedure the MRI technician recommended I check with the reception to see if they can get me in before then!?! That was actually already in the plan so I’ll be calling from time to time to see if there are any cancellations I can jump on. Meanwhile I am “trying” to get the homestead ready in case I have a lengthy downtime. Less work for Linda! Also working on the latest haunt tutorial video which is taking way longer than expected – all these newfangled tools feels like drinking from a fire hose. . While I “try” to get caught up on everything, Brad is going to take you back to South Carolina for another type of “tri”.

Take it away Brad…

On our last full day in Hilton Head this year, Jan and I decided to drive a short distance (90 minutes or so from our hotel with stops along the way) to a new location suggested by Ted Jennings (see his site here).  We visited the Port Royal Cypress Wetlands which appears to be right in the middle of the town of Port Royal, SC.  It is a small body of water with limited parking, but we were able to find a parking space near the boardwalk overlook.  The whole surface area of the water is only a couple of acres based on my estimate.  Having said that, it took Jan and I a couple of hours to walk all the way around the half-mile boardwalk and trails.  No, it’s not really larger on the inside.  There were so many birds, and alligators, we really didn’t know where to start to point the cameras.

In the past, Jan and I have found the occasional Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor), or Great Egret, or Great Blue Heron in the marsh areas we visit.  Normally we only see one, or maybe two Tricolors at a particular location.  This time, there had to be a dozen Tricolors just hanging around in the trees on a small island in the middle of the wetlands. 

The featured Tricolors today were all on the island, except for one recluse hanging out with the Yellow-bellied Slider turtles along the edge of the water.  Even though they nest in trees, I’m always surprised to see a wading bird sitting on a tree branch.  And seeing the amount of alligators cruising in the water around the island, this is a prudent strategy. 

Tricolored Heron found at Port Royal Cypress Wetlands, SC by Brad and Jan Marks

Hit the jump to learn more about these Port Royal Tris.

Continue reading Feather Tiara…by Brad Marks

Freebird

Howdy folks! My apologies, it has been a while since hearing from me. Been a bit of a struggle with my injury and the therapy exercises are pretty much wiping me out after the 4th session of the day. The thought of then trying to type with one hand turns into a frustration bridge too far. The good news is every day is an improvement and more of a check of my expectations than a criticism of the healing progress. Linda can confirm, I’m hard to handle when not getting my miles in – fortunately, I have been able to walk ~7 miles a day so that is burning some of the crazies off. A heaping dose of gratitude to Brad for holding down the Intrigued complex while I’m trying to get better. Figured we would give him a rest from having to deal with not only posting, but also keeping those pesky lawyers in line – like trying to get mercury back in the bottle. Note, did anyone else use to have quicksilver races on the school bus when they were kids? We use to put drops in the channels in the tread between the seats and bet on which one would make it to the back first – it was a different time for sure ha. I digress, how about we get to today’s feathered feature of the day.

Tricolored Heron found at South Padre Island Bird Viewing and Nature Center January 2022

Hit the jump to read more about this glamorous Heron.

Continue reading Freebird

Technicolor Heron…by Brad Marks

It’s agility dog show weekend which means we are packing up the steel mule and heading out to…well, somewhere other than here. I am generally told the destination at some point between getting on and getting off the mule. If I am lucky I packed enough underwear for whatever length of stay it turns out to be (yep, I cheat and get an idea of how many days and climate zones are being crossed by seeing what Linda ends up packing). She also indicated I don’t need to bring running clothes, so this one sounds fairly shot. While out, Brad will once again be at the helm of the Intrigued armada. Fingers crossed he keeps the flowers watered and more importantly, prevents our lawyers from throwing a kegger – last time I left they papered all the inside walls with photocopies of their butts. We had to disinfect the copier before the rest of our departments would even come near it. Good luck Brad ha!

Take it away Captain…

I often wonder where the names come from for some of the birds I see and photograph.  Many are very obvious:  red-winged blackbird for example.  (Even though it should really be the “red with a splotch of yellow”-winged blackbird.)  Or the red-headed woodpecker.  Nailed that one.  Not so obvious is the red-bellied woodpecker (have to look very close to see the red, and if you are close enough to see it you are probably too close). 

Today’s subject is no different.  While technically not “technicolor”, it is tricolored.  No, not the RGB (red/green/blue) colors so many former IT people know about.  But there are certainly more than the three main colors as the name implies.  At first glance, tricolored herons (Egretta tricolor) look like a miniature version of the great blue heron in stature and color.  However, when this one turned towards us there is a bright white patch on its throat and breast. 

Tricolored Heron by Brad Marks

Hit the jump to read more about this Great Blue Heron mini-me!

Continue reading Technicolor Heron…by Brad Marks

Strutter

Well, it’s March and at recent glance my last post came courtesy of February. Now that is some mighty fine procrastination if I do say so myself! Some of the delay was thanks to a quick trip to Vegas to get a little birding done in Henderson, some more Valley of Fire and still more in Red Rock Canyon. May have even managed to add a couple more entries on the bird the life list. If all goes as normal they might make their appearance here in hmmm, add that to that, carry the 1, give a slight buffer to complete the processing.. yep, 3 years sounds about right. Granted Ron has been on my case about my snap to post lag so there is a chance these might jump the queue – maybe even ahead of the Ron Who Owes Me Bigley haul (as he has yet to post about that event – give him hell people!) Then to top it all off, I’ve had to battle a broken garage door opener over the last two days. Ended up having to replace the internal gearing which was quite the ordeal. For the record, the genius that attached the metal drive gear to PLASTIC worm gearing is an engineering idiot. Of course, the best part of successfully defeating the mechanical gremlins is being able to strut around the house rhetorically asking “Who Da Man!?! Which is what I thought of when I saw this Tricolored Heron walking around the water like it owned the place.

Tricolored Heron found at South Padre Island Bird Viewing and Nature Center December 2017

Probably successfully rebuilt a carburetot for his ‘Stang and making sure all the ladies in the area took notice. Them Tri’s are a handy bunch. This particular specimen was spotted at the South Padre Island Bird Viewing and Nature Center back in December 2017. And you thought I was kidding about the size of the image queue. To my credit, I have been putting a serious dent in the multiple Texas trips over the last couple of years.

ricolored Heron found at South Padre Island Bird Viewing and Nature Center December 2017

Continue reading Strutter

Well, Hi There Tri

Here I sit wondering. was it having to load and then unload 20 bags of cement, or shoveling 30 5 gallon buckets of coal shale, or hand carrying said buckets some distance away, or moving a bunch of 4x8x3/4 treated plywood, or loading and unloading cement pavers, or having to haul 16 large tubs full of Halloween decorations back onto the tall shelving in my outbuilding, or complying with Linda’s demand to take out the trash that has resulted in destroying my lower back? Finally gave in to the nagging pain and had my chiro snap it back in place. Now just need to get the swelling down before another weekend’s worth of work stares me in the face. The good news is, right now, sitting doesn’t hurt as bad as standing which makes getting a post out one of the few things I can get done during the healing process. Oh, for the record – I am certain it was the trash duties that did this to me!

Took a gander at the photo queue and found a series featuring these beauties.

Ticolored Heron found at South Padre Island Bird Viewing and Nature Center January 2017

When it comes to Herons, the Great Blue holds command from a sheer size perspective, but when it comes to elegance, I think the Tricolored variety takes the cake…or maybe in this context, the fish. Something about the slate blue/grey interlaced with lavender and then contrasted with the white on the belly give this smaller Heron a regal look. An image that stands in contrast to the wet and muddy environments they tend to hang out in.

Ticolored Heron found at South Padre Island Bird Viewing and Nature Center December 2016

Hit the jump to learn a bit more about Mr. Tri.

Continue reading Well, Hi There Tri