Splashdown

Since I first saw the black-crowned night-heron on the third of August it has become a regular early morning acquaintance.

But only very briefly before it disappears among the high branches of the trees that edge Shoemaker Lake.

A lone Caspian Tern has also been a welcome visitor to Lakeside Park every morning. It circles with seemingly effortless flaps of its wings, it swoops, stalls motionless in midair, it folds its wings and then dives headfirst.

More times than not, it comes up with nothing more than wet feathers, but when it does hit its target the Tern leaves Lakeside Park with its prize, only to return a while later looking for its next unsuspecting catch.

The young belted kingfishers are becoming masters of the hunt. 

Using their skills effectively to score on almost every attempt.

There is always the problem of the scales though, they tend to get everywhere!

A quick rub and it's all better.

The mallards and geese at Lakeside Park are quite often taken for granted. They are always there and are so tame that they don't really present much of a challenge when it comes to photographing them.

But capturing them in flight is a completely different proposition.

Even a normally drab looking female is transformed with the bright flashes of blue in her flight feathers. 

Ready for a splashdown in the lake.

Canada geese have taken to flying short circuits around Shoemaker lake together as a family, strengthening the muscles of their young in preparation for the migration south.

The young great blue herons are learning to be independent of their parents.

Instead of pursuing their parents for an easy meal as they were a month ago.

They've learnt that it's time to stand on their own two feet.

And hunt for their own food.

All you have to do is keep your eye on the target.

Well, it kind of looked like a fish.

Obviously, a little more practice is called for.

Here's a photo of an adult in June this year as it fished on the edge of the reed beds at the very top of Shoemaker Lake, showing exactly how it should be done.

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