I very, very quietly crept along the Neuse River until I could get a clear view. Then I watched this heron stand like this, totally motionless, for about 5 minutes. In total concentration and with every muscle tensed, he was waiting for just the right opportunity to smash his head through the water’s surface and grab
There is a spot in the top of this tall, but dead, tree that is higher than all the surrounding trees. It is on the island that is created when the Neuse River splits just downstream of the Falls Dam in Raleigh. Herons land on this tree nub and view the entire area. I assume
In contrast to yesterday’s post about a new tree sprouting up in the middle of the Neuse River, here the Neuse River can be see through the roots of an overturned tree. As the river slowly erodes the river bank, trees that are right on the edge gradually lose their foundation. Eventually, they fall into
What are the chances that a tiny seed would land on a rock in the middle of a river, find enough soil to sprout, have enough time to grow roots, and then survive being under water that is rushing downstream for weeks at a time? Pretty amazing. In the middle of the Neuse River, near
I watched as a pair of these Red-Headed Woodpeckers crawled out of their hole in the tree and greeted the new day. One of them flew off immediately. The other one, pictured here, hung around for a while fluffing its feathers and looking around intently. Shortly after the first one flew off, the silence in
Do you see the heron? This is a beautiful section of the Upper Neuse River near Falls Dam in Raleigh. This spot is one you’ll never see unless you hike down off the Neuse River Greenway Trail. It is upstream of the canoe launch, so unless you are kayaking all the way from the dam,
As I sat huddled in the bushes just after sunrise last Saturday near the Neuse River Greenway Trail in Raleigh I noticed a pattern. The herons were using the river as a sort of highway. In most cases, they would be flying along its path and then see me and flip out and immediately change
The next week (or more) might as well be called, “Heron Week.” You know, it’s like Shark Week, but feather-ier. For some reason this last trip down the Neuse River had herons like crazy. They were wading in the river, flying over head, standing up in the trees. They were everywhere! So, I’ve got a lot
