common_nature | Dive Bombing Kingbird + Heron

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yourlibrarian posting in

common_nature

My partner was out on a walk the other day when he spotted a kingbird. He passed it without incident but then it started dive bombing him. He suspected there might be a nest nearby, and said it got very close once to where he could feel the air from its wings over his head.

Spotted what seemed like a smaller grey heron by the lake. Maybe a youngster? Even so, check out the size of those feet in that second photo!

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From:

shirebound

it got very close once to where he could feel the air from its wings over his head.

Wow!

From:

yourlibrarian

I've noticed umbrellas come in handy when dealing with birds!

From:

pauraque

This year a pair of Eastern Kingbirds nested by a trail I often visit, and I've gotten to see them feeding their two big awkward fledglings. <3 I guess they didn't consider me threatening enough to divebomb!

From:

yourlibrarian

Lucky thing (both the absence of dive bombing and the sighting) 🙂

From:

full_metal_ox

Beautiful capture of an action pose, with the diving kingbird forming a jagged negative crescent moon against the daytime sky.

And good thing the mother heron didn’t attempt to divebomb you!

Edited (to add a thought.) Date: 2024-08-15 08:47 pm (UTC)

From:

yourlibrarian

I was very impressed he could get that shot with the phone camera given the bird's speed. It must have been closer than it looked too!

Indeed! The juvenile was very much on its own -- we're just guessing it was young because it seemed smaller and less feathery than the adult that's usually around.