Hot Heron

Another very hot day and Jack heron was feeling the heat this morning. He looks like he is panting. I took lots of shots hoping to see his tongue when I looked at my pics on screen. I've discovered that birds don't actually pant using their tongues like dogs do. They vibrate their throat tissues, which is known as gular fluttering. If they were to pant like dogs it would cause too much moisture loss. Birds are very efficient at retaining moisture.

I've added an image to extras of a comb-footed spider as I like that its red stripe matches the stem of its field maple lair. Lovely to see a mint moth, I'd forgotten how tiny they are.