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| Learning to Hunt at Metson Lake |
Not far from where it was born a couple of months ago, a junior great blue heron was pursuing the daunting task of trying to feed itself this morning at Metson Lake, where it had plenty of human admirers passing by on a busy Memorial Day. Most of the admirers left after a minute or two, but I wanted to see the bird make a successful hunt. After half an hour without a single attempted strike, though, I also left -- knowing my lunch (a killer salad fortified with a side of Jane Bread and Pierce Point cheese) was waiting for me at home.
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| Earlier on my ride I saw an adult heron hunting at South lake. It made several stabs but seemed to be doing it to get a drink of water. |
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| I wondered if I'd seen this one in its nest at nearby Blue Heron Lake. |
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| Most young herons do not survive until adulthood. Despite all their instincts for catching prey, the prey itself doesn't make it easy to be caught. |
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| Wing Fan |
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| The heron moved around a fair amount among the branches of the remains of the cypress that fell into the lake more than three years ago, hoping to find a better spot. |
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| Sometimes it would just wade toward a new spot. |
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| It frequently looked like it was about to make a stab. |
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| On the way up Overlook Drive I spotted a coyote ambling straight toward me on the side of the pavement. Just as I stopped and got my camera out, a bicyclist coming downhill startled it and sent it into the brush. I tried to intercept it to no avail. I thought I'd found a coyote trail to follow, but it ended in a hobo nest. |
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| A nearby hummingbird sat on an oak branch contemplating what kind of nectar it wanted for lunch. |
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