Ardeola ralloides
This small, solitary heron is a common resident of marshy vegetation on the margins of slow moving rivers, wetlands/pans and lakes. It skulks around in thick reeds and long grass looking to prey on unsuspecting insect larvae, spiders, beetles, crustaceans, fish and amphibians.
My favourite place to photograph this species is Marievale Bird Sanctuary near Nigel in south east Gauteng.
