Little Blue Herons at Famosa Slough

Little Blue Heron. Famosa Slough, San Diego, California. July 4, 2014. Greg Gillson

This small little urban wetland reminds me of Koll Center Wetlands in Beaverton, Oregon. It is in the middle of traffic and small businesses and apartments. There are cattails and shallow willow-lined puddles and mudflats. In both locations there is a surprising diversity of birds over time, but not necessarily at once or in large numbers. Twenty minutes is ample time to view all birds present.

In January I photographed Little Blue Herons at nearby Mission Bay and the mouth of the San Diego River. They are regular here, as well. The pale-based bill and green legs are different from the all black bill and black legs and yellow feet of the otherwise very similar Snowy Egrets.

These young birds are white for their first year, but really are blue-purple as adults. They are about 1/2 the size of Great Blue Herons.