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!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
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.
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!
Great photos! And very exciting to have a big visitor like that! I adore herons!
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! :)
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 ;)
Amazing Fran, just amazing. What a wonderful spot you’re living in!
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 ;)
How exciting, and how beautiful!
Isn’t he stunning! We were so chuffed to see him!
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
I do wonder if he’s the same one you saw, Charlie…
How lucky to be able to see. I only get see them at the nature reserve.
We’ve never, ever had one in the backyard before! This was a huge thrill!
What a magnificent looking bird!
Just the most stunning colour too!
Wow, what a striking visitor! I feel a bit sorry for the lizards, though.
Amanda, our backyard is full of them! I guess they take their chances – if the chooks don’t get them, the herons will now.. :)
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.
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!
Lovely!
Thank you! :)
What a beautiful visitor and what a treat living in the middle of the city:)
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).. :)
Don’t you just love when things like this happen!
Thanks Pam, it was magic! :)
Beautiful photos and how lucky that she landed in your backyard Celia. It must be a very inviting place.
We felt very fortunate indeed! :)
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 :) !
Eha, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white one! I’ll have to look out for them!
Wow how beautiful is that to just land in your back garden! I would have been transfixed too watching him.
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.
He is stunning. How lovely of him to visit.
We were very honoured! :)
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!
Ugh..a dead lizard, lucky it wasn’t a dead mouse, we’ve had one or two of those in our time here! :)
A great photo, Celia. Now that our regular visitor has eaten all the goldfish, it has to dine over at the dam.
Luckily our pond doesn’t have any fish! I guess our resident frog needs to be a bit careful though!
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.
Jan, I haven’t seen that episode! I’ll have to look out for it! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o42C6ajjqWg I discovered it’s spelled Manakin and I found this on Youtube.
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
Hahaha…now that’s a nice thought T! :)
Wow – he’s handsome! How wonderful to be able to have watched him and taken photos.
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!
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.
:)
A visiting pair must have been a joy to watch! :)
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
We have so many birds in the backyard – it’s such a lovely time of year, Becca! xxx
We always call herons Frank though I have no idea why.
Yes, I remember that now! I’m not sure this one looks like a Frank, actually… :)
What a beautiful fellow! Looking at that wonderful lush garden, no wonder he flew in!
How cool is that – you need to keep growing lizards in your garden Celia so he’ll come back :)
Diane, I hope so! He was stunning! :)
Congratulations on your nomination. I love your site.
Thank you! :)