Great Blue Heron

I had a wonderful opportunity watching and photographing a Great Blue Heron recently at Prime Hook NWR.

With exquisite grace, he slowly moved in the canal, looking for and snagging a darting meal in the water.

He also kept an eye on the few visitors walking by.

I worked on trying to capture a couple close-ups…..

……and received some piercing GBH eyes back at me.

Whoa, what a staredown! I dropped down my camera, turned my head away, and remained motionless.

Feeling no threat, he comfortably forged on, again ever so slowly and with grace.

As he moved on and away, I left him to his task. I ventured off, but came back past this area 10-15 minutes later. I searched the canal and saw that he had disappeared. I glanced at a couple sitting on a bench who smiled at me and pointed up to the Osprey nest platform off to the right.

And there he was. For everyone to see. What a beauty!

I know I will never tire photographing the gorgeous Great Blue Heron. Not only were they my Mom’s favorite bird, but for me they are also a teacher of patience. Something that we all need these days in life’s hustle-bustle.

(These are for you, Mom. We just passed three years without you at Thanksgiving, and I still miss you daily. Happy Birthday today.)

Tags: birding, Birds, Delaware, great blue heron, heron, nature, NWR, photo, photographs, photography, photos, platform, Prime Hook, Reflections, wildlife

39 thoughts on “Great Blue Heron”

Ingrid on 12/12/2017 at 8:52 AM said:

I share your love of these amazing birds!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 9:01 AM said:
  
  They are addicting…..and great practice for photographing birds! 🙂
  
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Susan Hale on 12/12/2017 at 9:27 AM said:

Beautiful Donna! And I can just imagine how you felt witnessing this patient fisherman. I can spend hours watching and photographing the herons in our cove as they spend their hours patiently fishing. It usually results in catching a meal for them, and, as you say, a respite for me from our busy, bustling world. Of course it helps to be retired! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:37 PM said:
  
  Thanks Susan! It is a fun time, when you have the time. And certainly being retired is a plus! 🙂
  
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circadianreflections on 12/12/2017 at 10:14 AM said:

They so patient and beautiful. Your imsges and narrative are wonderful today. It’s good to hear you’re out birding again.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:37 PM said:
  
  Thanks Deborah!
  
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Sharon Mann on 12/12/2017 at 10:22 AM said:

So majestic, thanks for sharing you photography.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:38 PM said:
  
  You’re welcome and thank you for commenting!
  
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Tuxedo Sophisticated Cat on 12/12/2017 at 10:46 AM said:

I’m with you. I’m still in search of the perfect heron shot. They are such beautiful birds.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:39 PM said:
  
  They can really do some crazy poses too, sometimes it looks like they’re doing yoga. Probably better than I could ever do, lol.
  
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avian101 on 12/12/2017 at 1:21 PM said:

Fantastic shots Donna! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:39 PM said:
  
  Thanks HJ! 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on 12/12/2017 at 3:19 PM said:

A beautiful showcase of a majestic bird Donna! Looks even more lovely wearing breeding plumage.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:40 PM said:
  
  Thanks Ashley! 🙂
  
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Cornell on 12/12/2017 at 4:07 PM said:

He has such a long neck!!

I am sorry for the loss of your mother.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:46 PM said:
  
  Yes he does!
  Thank you Cornell for your kinds words.
  
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Ellen Jennings on 12/12/2017 at 4:31 PM said:

All beautiful shots and great job on the one staring right at you. Even in their patient stances they give us ongoing photography material.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:49 PM said:
  
  Thanks Ellen! If you stood close enough to that stare, it seems he’d poke your eye out, lol. It is pretty cool how motionless they can be, sometimes I will beg them to repose. 🙂
  
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tootlepedal on 12/12/2017 at 4:51 PM said:

I agree with you about herons.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:50 PM said:
  
  Grumpy or not, right?!! 😉
  
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Tiny on 12/12/2017 at 7:15 PM said:

Gorgeous shots of this beautiful bird, Donna ❤

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 10:51 PM said:
  
  Thank you Helen!
  
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Gunta on 12/12/2017 at 7:32 PM said:

There certainly IS something so very special about these birds. We get quite a few of them here, but they are extremely skittish… Perhaps because duck hunting is allowed, or reasons unknown to me.
This time of year certainly has particularly poignant memories when loved ones pass. My mom left me nearly seven years ago on her 96th birthday, which happened to also be Christmas eve. The pain never quite goes away, but it eases somewhat over time. For me it’s been easier thinking back on the good times!
Sending hugs and comforting thoughts!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 11:00 PM said:
  
  Their coloring is beautiful in itself. And then to see them fly with those huge wings, wow!
  
  Thanks, Gunta, for your kind words. And I’m so sorry for your loss of you mom, too, and on Christmas Eve, I know that makes it harder. My mom passed two days before Thanksgiving at 74 unexpectedly; each year it’s going to be different in correlation to Thanksgiving since that holiday date changes each year. Thanks for the hugs and comforting thoughts, I’m sending some back to you as well! 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on 12/13/2017 at 10:04 AM said:

I also never grow tired of great blue herons, can’t walk past them without taking at least one photo. 🙂
I am sorry you lost your mother, Donna.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/14/2017 at 12:41 PM said:
  
  Me either, I’ve got to stop and take a photo too. 🙂 Thank you for your comforting words, Tanja. It’s been a rough year…. Nature and birding is such a picker-upper!
  
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brighamstephen on 12/13/2017 at 1:39 PM said:

I’ll never get tired of seeing this bird; your great photos just add to that pleasure. Thanks.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/14/2017 at 12:41 PM said:
  
  Thanks so much, I think the consensus for us all is we love GBH’s! 🙂
  
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anotherday2paradise on 12/14/2017 at 4:40 PM said:

Gorgeous shots, Donna. I always marvel at how they can stand so still for such a long time. They are amazing birds. My favourite too. 🙂

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montucky on 12/16/2017 at 1:01 AM said:

You did a wonderful job of photographing him!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/16/2017 at 8:31 AM said:
  
  Thanks Terry! He was quite obliging! 🙂
  
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Jet Eliot on 12/16/2017 at 9:38 AM said:

The GBH is definitely a teacher of patience, and you are a good student, Donna, demonstrated by this beautiful series. I love it that the couple on the bench helped you re-locate him

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/17/2017 at 9:18 AM said:
  
  Thank you Jet. It was a great day to be out and about with nature.
  
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jkaybay on 12/24/2017 at 6:53 PM said:

“are also a teacher of patience” – agreed. Native Americans see them that way as spirit guides.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/24/2017 at 10:29 PM said:
  
  It is most interesting the ways and beliefs of Native Americans. I could understand why they believe GBHs are spirit guides. 🙂
  
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pattyanneart on 12/28/2017 at 11:09 AM said:

What a beautiful bird!!
Great photos! 💕

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/30/2017 at 6:17 PM said:
  
  Thank you Patty Anne!
  
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denisebushphoto on 01/01/2018 at 10:17 AM said:

You’ve been busy … a lot to catch up with here! Great captures Donna!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 01/01/2018 at 6:47 PM said:
  
  Thanks Denise!
  
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