This Week's Crops & Clips: Life in a puddle

Sometimes a rain puddle can hold a pleasant surprise. On my way back from observing the Bald Eagle in our neighborhood I noticed a heron flying towards a vacant area in front of a school along the busy boulevard. Since school was not in session, I pulled into the driveway.



Despite the traffic noise and all the distractions of power poles and traffic signals, I found a bit of solitude. A Tricolored Heron was foraging in a large rainwater puddle in its seemingly haphazard yet purposeful manner.

 





It was accompanied by a Snowy Egret that likewise moved rapidly about in search of prey. The reflection of a red stop sign outlines its head.





A lone Lesser Yellowlegs appeared, and waded out to the middle of the puddle. Like the other species, it was catching and eating prey of some sort, possibly small insects.





Although this puddle has been present since midsummer, it almost dried up a couple of times and also has swollen during rainy periods. It does not connect with other wetland areas, so it is unlikely to harbor fish. Both of these heron species are known to eat insects, amphibians and crustaceans, all of which are likely living here. The recent dry spell has concentrated the prey.

Watch this one minute video of the herons' active feeding habits. See how the egret stirs the water with its "golden slippers" to scare up prey. If the video does not show in the space below, click on this link.