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Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Living well in the urban village

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White-Faced Heron

November 26, 2014 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Last weekend, we had a magnificent visitor to our garden.

This stunning white-faced heron had flown in to hunt for lizards. We watched as he hopped down from Mark’s garage roof – I suspect our messy beds offer more reptile hiding spots than our neighbour’s neat and tidy garden. He might also have been attracted to our garden pond…

Standing at over half a metre tall, he happily posed for photos…

We were intrigued to observe the heron’s hunting technique, which involved rhythmically vibrating his neck from side to side…

We watched him catch and eat several small lizards during his short stay…

For any fellow birdlovers, there’s information on wiki about the white-faced heron, and here’s the page from the Michael Morcombe & David Stewart eGuide to Australian Birds…

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We were very excited – it’s not a bird we’ve had in our backyard before!

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Posted in Garden | 55 Comments

55 Responses

  1. on November 26, 2014 at 12:24 am Manuela

    Beautiful heron! What a treat to have him in your backyard. Maybe he will come again. I would gladly let him have all the lizards and toads, etc. I hate weeding and finding a reptile hiding under some leaves. Grosses me out. Everything is so green and vibrant in your pictures. Here everything is white as there’s snow on the ground already. All the migratory birds have long flown away.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:13 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I hope he’ll come again! We’ve been getting a few interesting birds of late, including some really gorgeous pied butcher birds with very unique calls!


  2. on November 26, 2014 at 12:41 am Joanna

    Great photos! And very exciting to have a big visitor like that! I adore herons!


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:13 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      As I’m sure you know, I was MOST excited about the photos because I knew I’d be able to share them with YOU! :)


  3. on November 26, 2014 at 3:43 am narf77

    How fortuitous. My grandad always said that herons were good luck. I saw 14 of them when I was walking Earl at 5am yesterday. They landed in an old dead gum tree near where we were walking. Amazing birds :) Earl doesn’t like them much as they are competitors for “his” lizards ;)


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Amazing Fran, just amazing. What a wonderful spot you’re living in!


      • on November 28, 2014 at 2:15 am narf77

        Indeed we are Celia and I am grateful every single day for the circumstances that brought me here :). Of course, if it wasn’t for a most insistent little dog who must sniff the neighbourhood every morning at just on 5am, I wouldn’t see most of this ;)


  4. on November 26, 2014 at 5:12 am Misky

    How exciting, and how beautiful!


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Isn’t he stunning! We were so chuffed to see him!


  5. on November 26, 2014 at 5:47 am hotlyspiced

    These herons are such an elegant bird. Thank goodness you were home when he came to visit. Great photos! I hope he becomes a regular xx


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I do wonder if he’s the same one you saw, Charlie…


  6. on November 26, 2014 at 6:17 am pinkiebag

    How lucky to be able to see. I only get see them at the nature reserve.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We’ve never, ever had one in the backyard before! This was a huge thrill!


  7. on November 26, 2014 at 6:33 am cheri

    What a magnificent looking bird!


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Just the most stunning colour too!


  8. on November 26, 2014 at 7:10 am lambsearsandhoney

    Wow, what a striking visitor! I feel a bit sorry for the lizards, though.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Amanda, our backyard is full of them! I guess they take their chances – if the chooks don’t get them, the herons will now.. :)


  9. on November 26, 2014 at 7:35 am lizzygoodthings

    Celia, that’s quite amazing! Peter and I were just talking yesterday about the fact that we never see birds such as seagulls or ducks in our garden… water birds obviously… and then I see this.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Lizzy, when we designed the garden, the central feature in Linda Woodrow’s plan that we followed was the pond. It’s attracted all sorts of wildlife to our garden!


  10. on November 26, 2014 at 8:17 am Fourth Generation Farmgirl

    Lovely!


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thank you! :)


  11. on November 26, 2014 at 8:27 am Jo Jo's Soapy Tales

    What a beautiful visitor and what a treat living in the middle of the city:)


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      I KNOW! It’s so unusual to see him, although we do get a wide assortment of birds, most of which I love (can’t stand the ibises though – they remind me of the skesis from the Dark Crystal).. :)


  12. on November 26, 2014 at 8:33 am Pamela Roberts

    Don’t you just love when things like this happen!


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thanks Pam, it was magic! :)


  13. on November 26, 2014 at 8:48 am Melissa

    Beautiful photos and how lucky that she landed in your backyard Celia. It must be a very inviting place.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We felt very fortunate indeed! :)


  14. on November 26, 2014 at 10:11 am Eha

    Such beautiful photos of an elegant bird . . and thank you for the ‘homework’ also. As my semi-rural cottage backs onto parkland I am also fortunate to sight them often but most of the ones here are all-white! Love the stylish way they strut oft in pairs . . . . but don’t remember any from my decades of living in inner Sydney either!! You were fortunate one landed in relatively small space: hope it returns :) !


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Eha, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white one! I’ll have to look out for them!


  15. on November 26, 2014 at 10:38 am nancy @ Plus Ate Six

    Wow how beautiful is that to just land in your back garden! I would have been transfixed too watching him.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:22 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Nancy, he had the most interesting hunting technique – his neck sort of vibrated just before he struck. I think Pete said something about breaking up the shadow so the prey didn’t pick up that he was there…must check again with him.


  16. on November 26, 2014 at 10:53 am Debra Kolkka

    He is stunning. How lovely of him to visit.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:22 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We were very honoured! :)


  17. on November 26, 2014 at 2:45 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

    Where was he yesterday when I had a lizard in my kitchen and the cat pulled its tail off and it died under the fridge. I go up this morning to the most disgusting smell. Yucko! I need this bird to live just outside the door. I could supply him with lizards every day. He’s very pretty!


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:22 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Ugh..a dead lizard, lucky it wasn’t a dead mouse, we’ve had one or two of those in our time here! :)


  18. on November 26, 2014 at 5:43 pm lizarees

    A great photo, Celia. Now that our regular visitor has eaten all the goldfish, it has to dine over at the dam.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:23 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Luckily our pond doesn’t have any fish! I guess our resident frog needs to be a bit careful though!


  19. on November 26, 2014 at 7:00 pm Jan

    It’s always a thrill to have a close encounter with such a graceful bird. I’ve just been watching QI this evening and they had footage of a colourful little bird called a ‘mannequin’ bird – it has the most amazing, funny mating dance.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:24 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Jan, I haven’t seen that episode! I’ll have to look out for it! :)


      • on November 28, 2014 at 1:37 pm Jan

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o42C6ajjqWg I discovered it’s spelled Manakin and I found this on Youtube.


  20. on November 26, 2014 at 10:07 pm My Kitchen Stories

    Wow aren’t they beautiful. I just can’t imagine him flying over the inner west, but he must have looked down and seen your little patch of paradise and done a dive bomb


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:24 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Hahaha…now that’s a nice thought T! :)


  21. on November 27, 2014 at 1:17 am Chica Andaluza

    Wow – he’s handsome! How wonderful to be able to have watched him and taken photos.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:25 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Tanya, I got to watch him for about ten minutes, but Pete had much longer. He didn’t even fly off (the bird that is, not Pete) when I pulled up the drive!


  22. on November 27, 2014 at 5:46 am sara

    Yes, they are amazing aren’t they. I had a pair parading outside my window a couple of weeks ago (weekly inspiration #20). I am interested in animal wisdom, so this is what this bird signifies: The ability to watch patiently for results. Dignity of movement, methodical procedure in matters. Gaining dignity and self-confidence for facing personal problems.
    :)


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:25 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      A visiting pair must have been a joy to watch! :)


  23. on November 27, 2014 at 6:37 am theintolerantchef

    What a very special privilege indeed to be graced with such a lovely visitor! Maybe he saw how well you treat your chooky friends and realized he’d have a warm welcome :) xox


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:26 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      We have so many birds in the backyard – it’s such a lovely time of year, Becca! xxx


  24. on November 27, 2014 at 8:31 am Anne Wheaton

    We always call herons Frank though I have no idea why.


    • on November 27, 2014 at 9:26 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Yes, I remember that now! I’m not sure this one looks like a Frank, actually… :)


  25. on November 27, 2014 at 10:04 pm Goldenpudding

    What a beautiful fellow! Looking at that wonderful lush garden, no wonder he flew in!


  26. on November 30, 2014 at 7:00 am dianeskitchentable

    How cool is that – you need to keep growing lizards in your garden Celia so he’ll come back :)


    • on November 30, 2014 at 8:31 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Diane, I hope so! He was stunning! :)


  27. on December 8, 2014 at 4:48 am lbeth1950

    Congratulations on your nomination. I love your site.


    • on December 8, 2014 at 5:11 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

      Thank you! :)



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