The Dyson Tract along the Delaware and Raritan Canal has been drawing lots of birders to check out the little blue herons that have taken up residence for the last week or so. I’d stopped by a few days ago and went back Sunday afternoon.
At this time of year, the trees are thick with leaves, making it harder to see into the swamp. There are only a couple of places affording a clear vantage point, and my first decent views came from a break in the trees along the gravel trail that runs perpendicular to the canal towpath. I spotted a great egret and what I believed were two of the little blues from there, but they were distant.
I had the foresight to bring my monopod to make for steadier shots, and it also served as walking stick. I walked back toward the towpath and spotted some trampled grass leading down to the edge of the swamp. I gave it a try, steadying myself with the monopod and keeping alert for ticks. I reached the edge of the swamp, with spongy black soil below my feet.
The view was worth the mud. I startled a green heron, which flew off one log onto another maybe 50 feet from me. That’s when I made my best shot of the day, the one topping this post.
I stayed at the edge of the swamp for about 10 minutes, shooting a pair of egrets relatively near and a couple of the little blue herons farther away. I found my monopod sinking into the mud and decided it was time to head back to firmer ground. As I turned, my left hiking shoe stuck in the muck and nearly came off before I snugged it back on my heel.
I decided to take another look from my initial vantage point, and I was rewarded with narrow but good looks at a couple of little blues.
As I was training my camera on the little blues, I was startled when a great blue heron flew in from the left. I didn’t get a clear shot of the big bird landing, but I got a shot showing it standing behind one of the little blue herons. It’s a good indicator of the relative size of the two species.
Other birders have reported seeing six little blue herons at the Dyson Tract. I recorded four on e-Bird. It’s possible I got a glimpse of a fifth. I couldn’t see the sixth, which may have flown off or was roosting in a tree.
Regardless, it was a treat to see so many elegant birds in one location and to have survived the mud with both shoes and no ticks attached. 🦅
The Jersey Birder 
Elegant is right! And that top little green heron photo: triple wow!! Worth a bit of mud and threat of ticks!
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