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Birds > Casuariiformes > Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax

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Black-crowned night heron, probably the only heron that is said to feed at night. Allegedly, because we watched them feeding also at noon when it was hot. But, as it was our first encounter with a representative of this species we woke up at 2 o'clock in the morning to be ready at 3 o'clock and waited in the darkness  for black-crowned night herons to arrive.  And it was worth it. Around 3:30 the first bird appeared. Then second, third, fourth ... It was still very dark, and without the light of the lantern standing nearby there would be nothing to see. Black-crowned night herons took hunting positions on numerous rocks in the creek. It was cool in the morning so mist hovered quite intensely. It was an amazing view of black-crowned night herons frozen motionless in the water vapor in the darkness of the night. It was not easy to photograph them, it is hard to say what ISO I had to use to take a picture, and of so poor quality. That is why this section of our photo session goes to the information part only. And then the most anxious waiting time, doubts if the birds would continue feeding at sunrise, would  I finally take my first shots of the black-crowned night heron. Well, maybe not the first, because I had the opportunity to watch them twice, but the pictures that were taken then could not make the gallery of this beautiful bird. If they were so good hunters that they were going to be full before dawn, then all our efforts would be meaningless. Especially because there was countless number of fish in the creek. Some of the smarter birds located near fish passes and there they were waiting for fish that occasionally tried to cross the water sill. You can see the photo of the fish jumping I included in the gallery. The photos from the fish pass with the urbanized background are not suitable for the gallery. Fortunately, the birds accompanied us several hours, occasionally they were coming so close to our lookout point that the 300mm lens turned out to be too long and the bird did not fit in the frame. In the morning, when lighting conditions were poor, the way the birds behaved  made it easier to photograph them. They were still frozen, watching the water closely. Even long exposure times made it possible to produce sharp images with beautifully blurred rushing water. So many good pictures were taken that their selection for the gallery was very difficult. Especially because watching the herons when hunting was so exciting. So close encounter with such an extraordinary and a little mysterious nocturnal bird species remains in memory for long time. A full, quite unique gallery of the black-crowned night heron with a soundtrack has been created. It was not easy to record its voice. The herons did not give sounds often and moreover the sound of water running made a rather cumbersome acoustic background. I decided to benefit from the time of waiting for sunrise for more than an hour. The directional microphone was turned on for about an hour, and from such a long recording the soundtrack of a few voices was made, what is important for the gallery to be complete. I have succeeded once again in observing and taking photos of the birds that were somewhere in my photographic plans. In my case with scarce time resources it would be difficult to realize these photographic dreams without other people and their help. That is why I send my thanks to Peter and Halina for the invitation for such an exceptional  photo session. Without your kindness I would still admire the black-crowned night heron’s photos on other people websites. Regards and thank you.
Last minute news- 12/2018 Tanzania
I’ve uploaded one photo in the black-crowned night heron’s gallery, which presents young specimens of this species. In Poland, despite observing many herons, I didn’t see any young specimens during my photo sessions. In Tanzania, who knows, maybe I took pictures of Polish young and adult herons that migrate there for winter?
Last minute news -12/2018 Sri Lanka
Last minute news- Dominican Republic – 11/2021

TANZANIA- j.angielski

TANZANIA XII/17’- introductory text- Kori Bustard.
NEW GALLERIES:
BIRDS:

1. Kori Bustard (T). 2. Secretary-bird (T). 3. Rüppell's Vulture (T). 4. Red-billed Firefinch (V). 5. Yellow-necked Spurfowl (T). 6. White-bellied Bustard (V). 7. Blue-capped Cordonbleu. 8. Von der Decken's Hornbill (V). 9. Eastern Double-collared Sunbird (T,V) 10. Yellow-collared Lovebird (T,V). 11.Lappet-faced Vulture (T). 12. Superb Starling. 13. Pallid Harrier (T). 14.Silvery-cheeked Hornbill. 15.Crowned Lapwing (V). 16.White-necked Raven (T). 17.Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (T).18.Double-banded Courser. 19.Gray-headed Silverbill. 20.Cape Teal. 21.Augur Buzzard. 22.Marabou Stork (T). 23.Red-and-yellow Barbet. 24.Red-necked Francolin (T). 25.Cape Robin-Chat (T,V ). 26.Yellow-billed Oxpecker. 27.Greater Flamingo (T). 28.Lesser Flamingo(T,V ) 29.Tawny Eagle. 30.Southern Ground-Hornbill. 31.Yellow-bellied Waxbill (V). 32.White-headed Buffalo-Weaver(V). 33.Hildebrandt's Starling (V). 34.Nubian Woodpecker. 35.Capped Wheatear. 36.African Spoonbill. 37.White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (V). 38.African Silverbill. 39.Verreaux's Eagle-Owl. 40.Rufous-crowned Roller. 41.Fischer's Sparrow-Lark. 42.Gray-breasted Francolin (T,V). 43.Hildebrandt's Francolin (T). 44.Yellow-throated Sandgrouse (T). 45.Golden-winged Sunbird (T,V). 46.Northern Red-billed Hornbill (V). 47.Black-breasted Snake-Eagle. 48.African Gray Hornbill. 49. Pied Crow (V). 50.Kenya Rufous Sparrow. 51.Collared Pratincole. 52.Purple Grenadier. 53.Senegal Lapwing. 54.Usambiro Barbet (V). 55. Bronze Sunbird. 56.Coqui Francolin (T). 57.White-browed Robin-Chat (V). 58.Three-banded Courser. 59. Gray-headed Social-Weaver. 60.Hooded Vulture (T). 61. Rufous-tailed Weaver (V). 62.Pygmy Falcon. 63.White-browed Coucal. 64.White-throated Bee-eater. 65.Handsome Francolin (T). 66.Long-toed Lapwing. 67. Fischer's Lovebird  (T,V) 68.Speckle-fronted Weaver. 69.Slender-tailed Nightjar (T). 70.Rosy-throated Longclaw. 71.Buff-crested Bustard. 72.Grey-headed Kingfisher. 73.Brown-backed Woodpecker(T). 74.Black-faced Sandgrouse (T). 75.Spotted Morning-Thrush. 76. Green-winged Pytilia. 77.Common Waxbill. 78.Heuglin's white-eye (T). 79.Red-fronted Barbet. 80.Red-cheeked Cordonbleu. 81. Namaqua Dove. 82. Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater. 83.Montagu's Harrier (T). 84.Schalow's Turaco (V). 85.White-rumped Shrike. 86.Garden Bulbul (V). 87.Streaky Seedeater (T). 88. Dark Chanting-Goshawk. 89. Ashy Starling. 90.Thick-billed Seedeater. 91.Gray-backed Fiscal (V). 92. Magpie Shrike (V). 93.Rueppell's Starling. 94. Gull-billed Tern. 95. Mourning Collared-Dove. 96.African Pipit. 97.White-bellied Go-away-bird (V). 98.Mariqua Sunbird. 99. Short-tailed Lark. 100.Black-bellied Bustard (V). 101. Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler (T,V).102. Dusky Turtle-Dove. 103.Beautiful Sunbird. 104. Abyssinian Scimitar-bill. 105. Blue-naped Mousebird. 106.Martial Eagle (T). 107.Black Crake. 108. Pink-backed Pelican. 109. Red-capped Lark. 110. Lesser Masked-Weaver. 111.Baglafecht Weaver. 112.Knob-billed Duck. 113.Gabar Goshawk. 114.Rufous-naped lark (V). 115.Winding Cisticola (V). 116. Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver. 117.Ethiopian Boubou (T). 118.White-breasted Cormorant. 119.Little Sparrowhawk.120.Red-collared Widowbird. 121.Grey-hooded Gull. 122.Great Spotted Cuckaoo. 123.Silverbird. 124.Gray Kestrel. 125.Hottentot Teal. 126.Black-lored Babbler. 127.Vitelline Masked-Weaver. 128. Black-necked Weaver. 129.Chestnut Sparrow.130.Schalow's Wheatear. 131.Mountain Thrush (T). 132.Eastern Chanting-Goshawk (V). 133.East African Citril. 134.Mountain-Greenbul (T). 135.Ashy Flycatcher. 136.White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher. 137.Abdim's Stork. 138.Long-tailed Fiscal. 139.African Dusky Flycatcher.  140.Tanzanian Red-billed Hornbill. 141.Lilac-breasted Roller.142.Arrow-marked Babbler. 143.Teita Fiscal. 144.Grasshopper Buzzar. 145.Slate-colored Boubou. 146.White-bellied Canary 147.Northern Anteater-Chat. 148.Sooty Chat. 149.Red-chested Cuckoo.
MAMMALS:
1. African savanna elephant (T). 2.Leopard (T). 3.Lion (T). 4.Yellow baboon (V). 5.Black-backed jackal. 6.Cheetah(T). 7.Spotted hyena(V). 8.Grant's zebra (V). 9.Kirk's dik-dik10. Hartebeest. 11.Common hippopotamus (V).12.Common eland. 13.Blue wildebeest. 14. Blue monkey. 15.Bush hyrax. 16.Bat-eared fox. 17.Grant's gazelle. 18.Bohor reedbuck. 19.Sassaby.  20.African golden wolf. 21.Common dwarf mongoose. 22.Slender-tailed Mongoose. 23.Thomson's gazelle. 24.Klipspringer. 25.Egyptian mongoose.26.Masai giraffe.
REPTILES:
1. Nile monitor. 2. Mwanza flat-headed rock.  3. Southern Long Tailed Lizard.  
CHANGES in GALLERIES:
BIRDS:

1.White-backed Vulture (V). 2.Long-crested Eagle (V). 3. Black-headed Heron. 4.Red-billed Oxpecker (T). 5.Helmeted Guineafowl (T,V). 6. Little Bee-eater. 7.Blacksmith Lapwing. 8. African Jacana.  9.African Paradise-Flycatcher (V). 10.Yellow-billed Kite (T). 11.Palm-nut Vulture. 12.Spur-winged Goose. 13.Bateleur.14. Little Egret (V). 15.Brown Snake-Eagle. 16.Glossy Ibis (T). 17.Brown-crowned Tchagra. 18.Chinspot Batis. 19.African Hoopoe (T,V) 20.Spotted Thick-knee. 21.Sacred Ibis. 22.Black-winged Lapwing. 23.Water Thick-knee. 24.Gray Crowned-Crane. 25. Red-billed Quelea.26. Fork-tailed Drongo.27. Speckled Pigeon. 28.Wahlberg's Eagle.  29.Three-banded Plover. 30.Kittlitz's plover. 31.Wattled Lapwing. 32.Steppe Eagle. 33.Grosbeak Weaver. 34.Yellow-fronted Canary. 35.Squacco Heron. 36.Goliath Heron. 37.European Roller. 38. Cattle Egret. 39.Yellow-billed Stork. 40.Woodland Kingfisher. 41.Lesser Striped-Swallow.42.Great White Pelican. 43.Speckled Mousebird. 44.Red-winged Starling (V). 45.Red-rumped Swallow (V).46. Pied Avocet. 47.African Stonechat. 48.Ring-necked Dove. 49.Hamerkop (V). 50.White Stork (T). 51.African Openbill. 52.Black-winged Stilt. 53. Striped Kingfisher. 54.Pin-tailed Whydah. 55. Southern Fiscal. 56.Black-crowned Night Heron. 57.Black-winged Kite. 58.African Firefinch. 59.Marsh Sandpiper. 60.Laughing Dove. 61.Red-billed Teal. 62.Crested Francolin (T) 63.White-browed Scrub Robin. 64.Striated Heron. 65.White-faced Whistling Duck.  66. Spur-winged lapwing (T,V). 67.Eastern imperial eagle. 68.Common Ostrich.69.Lesser Spotted Eagle. 70.Lesser Kestrel. 71.Northear Wheatear.
MAMMALS: 1. African buffalo. 2. Common warthog. 3.Impala. 4. Waterbuck.5.Banded mongoose.
REPTILES:1. Nile crocodile. 2. Flap-necked chameleon. 3. Leopard tortoise.
Go to the gallery : TANZANIA- FAUNA    MASAI PEOPLE(T)     TAZNANIA-LANDSCAPE   TAZNANIA FLORA

Tanzania - slideshow

Sri Lanka - SPIS Jezyk ANGIELSKI

Junglefowl- introductory text from the expedition to Sri Lanka.
Newly created galleries:
BIRDS:

1.Sri Lanka Junglefowl (T,V). 2.Ceylon Magpie (V). 3.Barn Owl (T). 4.Indian Peafowl (T,V). 5.Spot-winged Thrush. 6.Sri Lanka White-eye 7.Ceylon Grey-Hornbill (V). 8.Brown Fish Owl (T). 9.Great Thick-knee(V). 10.Sri Lanka Spurfowl (V) 11.White-bellied Sea-Eagle (T).12.Green-billed Coucal.  13.Sri Lanka Hanging-Parrot (T). 14.Jungle Owlet (T,V). 15.Tricolored Munia (V). 16. White-breasted Waterhen(V). 17.Greater Coucal(V). 18.Crested Hawk-Eagle (V). 19.Serendib Scops-Owl. 20. Ceylon Frogmouth. 21.Painted Stork. 22.Indian Pond Heron. 23.Spot-billed Pelican. 24.White-browed Fantail. 25.Yellow-browed Bulbul. 26.Black Bulbul(V). 27.Alexandrine Parakeet(V). 28.Orange-billed Babbler(V). 29.Sri Lanka Green-Pigeon. 30.Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher. 31.Red-faced Malkoha. 32.Oriental Darter. 33.Crimson-backed Flameback. 34.Red-vented Bulbul. 35.Crimson-backed Flameback.36.Brown-capped Babbler. 37.Indian Scops-Owl. 38.Yellow-eared Bulbul (V). 39.Ashy-headed Laughingthrush. 40.Sri Lanka Drongo. 41. Chestnut-backed Owlet. 42.Chestnut-headed Bee-eater. 43.Layard's Parakeet. 44.Jerdon's Leafbird. 45.White-bellied Drongo. 46.Asian Paradise-Flycatcher. 47.Cinnamon Bittern. 48.Rosy Starling. 49.Brown-headed Barbet. 50.Pin-tailed Snipe. 51.Jerdon's Bushlark. 52.Malabar Pied-Hornbill. 53.Stork-billed Kingfisher. 54.Sri Lanka Woodshrike. 55.White-rumped Munia. 56.Black-headed Ibis. 57.Plain Prinia. 58.Yellow-billed Babbler. 59.Pied Cuckoo. 60.Brown Wood-Owl. 61.Kashmir Flycatcher. 62.Yellow-wattled Lapwing. 63.Sri Lanka Swallow. 64.Little Swift. 65.Malabar Trogon(T). 66.Indian Thick-knee. 67.Long-billed Sunbird. 68.Forest Wagtail. 69.Sri Lanka Wood-Pigeon(T). 70.Indian Robin. 71.Whiskered Tern. 72.Asian Koel. 73.Shikra. 74.Indian Pita. 75.Ashy Prinia. 76.Indian Cormorant. 78.Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark. 79.Orange-breasted Pigeon. 80. Gray-bellied Cuckoo. 81. Small Pratincole. 82.Dark-fronted Babbler. 83. Brown-breasted Flycatcher. 84.Yellow-fronted Barbet. 85.Purple-rumped Sunbird. 86.Barred Buttonquail. 87.Green Imperial Pigeon. 88.Clamorous Reed Warbler. 89.Jungle Prinia. 90.Common Iora. 91.Lesser Yellownape.  92.Purple Sunbird. 93.Crested Serpent Eagle. 94.Crested Honey Buzzard.95.Grey-headed Swamphen (T).
MAMMALS:
1.Sri Lankan elephant. 2.Chital. 3.Indian hare. 4.Tufted Gray Langur. 5.Toque macaque. 6.Indian palm squirrel (V). 7.Grizzled giant squirrel. 8.Yellow-striped chevrotain.9.Wild water buffalo. 10.Ruddy mongoose. 11. Golden jackal.
REPTILES::
1.Sri Lankan kangaroo lizard. 2.Green forest lizard. 3. Saltwater crocodile. 4.Sri Lanka Agama. 5.Sri Lankan pit viper(T). 6.Bengal monitor. 7.Asian water monitor. 8. Indian rat snake.
Changes in galleries:
BIRDS:

1.Purple Heron. 2.Red-wattled Lapwing (V), 3.Rose-ringed Parakeet (V), 4.Oriental Magpie-Robin (V). 5.Black-hooded Oriole(V), 6 Brahminy Kite. 7.Blue-tailed Bee-eater(T). 8.Flame Minivet. 9.Spotted Dove(V). 10.Emerald-Dove. 11.Common Myna. 12.Asian Openbill. 13.Pied Kingfisher. 14.Brown Shrike. 15.Nutmeg Mannikin. 16.White-throated Kingfisher. 17.Pheasant-tailed Jacana. 18.Lesser Whistling-Duck. 19. Great Egret. 20.Intermediate Egret. 21.Indian Roller. 22.Eurasian Spoonbill. 23.Yellow Bittern. 24.Common Tailorbird. 25.Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher. 26.Ashy Woodswallow. 27.Coppersmith Barbet. 28.Little Egret. 29.Common Kingfisher. 30.House Sparrow(T). 31.Woolly-necked Stork. 32.Barn Swallow. 33.Richard's Pipit. 34.Common Redshank. 35.Marsh Sandpiper. 36.Little Stint. 37.Black-crowned Night Heron. 38.Caspian Tern. 39.Little Green Bee-eater(T). 40.Zitting Cisticola. 41.Grey heron.42.Little Cormorant. 43.Black-capped Bulbul. 44.Large-billed Crow(V). 45.Pied Bushchat 46.Gray-breasted Prinia.47.Baya Weaver.
MAMMALS:Indian flying fox (V).
Sri Lanka FAUNA             Sri Lanka FLORA               Sri Lanka FLOWERS        Landscape of Sri Lanka         Sri Lanka- slideshow

DOMINIKANA -spis gatunków EN

Dominican Republic introduction text - Broad-billed Tody
New gallerys:
Birds

1. Broad-billed Tody (E,T,V). 2. Antillean Mango (T,E,V). 3. Vervain Hummingbird (T). 4. Hispaniolan Trogon (T,V,E). 5. Antillean Euphonia (E,V). 6.Hispaniolan Parakeet (E,V). 7.Narrow-billed Tody (E,V). 8. Loggerhead Kingbird. 9.Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo (V). 10.Black-crowned Palm-Tanager (E).11. Antillean Siskin (V,E). 12.Stolid Flycatcher(V,E). 13.Hispaniolan Woodpecker (E,V). 14. Palmchat (T,E,V). 15.Flat-billed Vireo (E). 16 Hispaniolan Emerald (T). 17.Pine Warbler. 18.Hispaniolan Nightjar (E). 19.Least Sandpiper (PL,T). 20.Hispaniolan Palm Crow (E,V). 21. Eastern Chat-Tanager (E,V). 22. Rufous-throated Solitaire (V,T,E).  23. Ashy-faced Owl (E). 24.Ridgway's Hawk (E). 25.Mangrove Cuckoo. 26.Hispaniolan Pewee (E). 27. Hispaniolan Spindalis (E). 28. Antillean Piculet (E). 29. Hispaniolan Crossbill (E,V). 30. Northern Potoo (T). 31. Semipalmated Sandpiper (PL,T). 32. White-cheeked Pintail. 33. American Yellow Warbler. 34. White-necked Crow (E,V). 35. Greater Antillean Bullfinch. 36. Olive-throated Parakeet. 37. La Selle Thrush (E,T). 38. Hispaniolan Oriole (E) 39. Black-faced Grassquit. 40. Antillean Palm-Swift. 41. Hispaniolan Parrot (E). 42. Green-tailed Warbler (E). 43. Orange-crowned Warbler. 44. Red-tailed Hawk. 45. Mourning Warbler.
Reptiles:
1.Rhinoceros iguana. 2. Puerto Rican crested anole.
Changes in galleries:
1.Tricolored Heron. 2.Killdeer. 3.Bananaquit (T,V). 4.Black-and-white Warbler (T). 5.Cape May Warbler. 6.Smooth-billed Ani (V). 7.Black-throated Blue Warbler. 8.Yellow-faced Grassquit. 9.Northern Parula. 10.Northern Mockingbird. 11.Prairie Warbler. 12.American Redstart. 13.Ovenbird. 14.Turkey Vulture. 15.Red-legged Thrush (T). 16.Grey Plover (PL). 17.Feral pigeons (PL,T). 18.Black-crowned Night Heron (PL). 19.Royal Tern (T,V). 20.Willet. 21.Lesser Yellowlegs (PL,T). 22.Magnificent Frigatebird (T). 23.American Kestrel. 24.Little Blue Heron. 25.Greater Yellowlegs (PL,T). 26.Black-necked Stilt. 27.Short-billed Dowitcher. 28.Greater Antillean Grackle. 29.Green Heron. 30. West Indian Whistling-Duck. 31.Snowy Egret. 32.Great Egret (PL). 33. Least Grebe.
Reptiles:
Green iguana

Santo Domingo         Dominican Republic  FAUNA       Dominican Republic  FLORA       Dominican Republic LANDSCAPE            Dominican Republic  OTHERS

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