Traveling along the Hillsboro Canal in a 20 foot ganoe, a cross between a flats boat and a canoe was a great experience. Bass fishing was the main activity but it gave me the chance to be close to the wildlife on the water. Night Herons were seen, probably Black Crowned as well as Tri-coloured Heron and Ahninga. The most notable sighting though was a few Limpkin by the waters edge. This species is as big as a heron and like a large rail but is in fact more related to the cranes. It is one of the less seen water birds here.
Fishing close to the bank near to trees we disturbed a Green Heron I havnt managed any decent photos of this species yet and we paused to try and get a good photo but the light was fading so that was going to be hard. Suddenly we noticed a nest over the water containing three wedgwood coloured eggs. Now we knew why the bird was reluctant to leave the scene. The nest was built of sticks and was placed precariously over the water for safety. The nest was not lined and interestingly unlike most other species of heron was not in a colony, I stepped ashore to try and get a shot of her on, or near the nest but then I couldnt find it again from the shore side. This proved to me what a great choice of site she had made. I dont often find nests, frankly because I dont look. This was though a great experience. My first reaction was to note how flimsy the nest looked and then how beautiful the eggs were. They were larger than a pigeon and smaller than a poultry hen, the size of a pheasant to be exact.
Back at the dock and in the dark a couple of Black Crowned Night Heron were living up to their name and walking around the parking lot.