


Recently, I was down at the lagoon behind the beach at Pelekane Bay in Kawaihae. I was engaged in one of my favorite activities – failing to get photos of dragonflies in flight!
When I heard a loud plop behind me, I turned to find this scene. This Black-crowned Night Heron had dropped into the algae-covered water, probably after a fish. I don’t think it caught anything, but when it popped up again it sported a rather fetching green hairdo. Even after it had shed that, it still found the process of getting out of the water was hard going, with a lot of flapping and splashing producing little result.
Eventually the bird reached dry land and resumed a watchful pose, apparently none the worse for its ordeal.

Great photos Graham. God luck with Dragonflies
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I think I need more than luck Brian
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Great captures, Graham. What a laugh to see it with that green wig.
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It was pretty funny. I love the bird’s expression in the last photo too.
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I sympathise over the dragonflies. The green slimy hat…not a style I can rock!
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I think I end up with one good dragonfly photo per 50 taken!
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That sounds about right for me too. Love a bit of solidarity, Graham. Hate failing alone.
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The green hairdo is rather amazing! Looks like the rather dreaded string algae, which can be problematic here even in garden ponds. Glad the heron escaped its ordeal unscathed.
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It’s a rather scuzzy-looking pond, but I think has connection to the ocean so a lot of small fish grow up here before heading out to sea.
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The green hairdo suit him! 😀
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This is too cute, Graham! Very much the “monster,” red eyes and all!
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Thanks Terri. I was an amusing little encounter.
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