Great Blue Heron In A Swamp

You may have noticed my last few posts shared photos from the Everglades and one was in real time (Christmas Star 2020), when I was previously home in Maryland for the holidays.

Now a second holiday cancellation, this time Christmas, along with impending snow/ice/cold temps, had us quickly deciding to get home affairs in order and pack our motorhome back up to head for Florida two weeks sooner than planned for our winter season. Christmas had to be virtual this year with our grandboys. 😢

What’s been perking me up is the excitement in making plans to revisit my favorite birding/wildlife spots discovered last winter here in the Everglades area. I’ve already been out and about exploring. 😊

One place is the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park that has some awesome nooks and crannies. Finding this Great Blue Heron was a pleasant surprise when I checked out one such nook through the trees and saw it perched on a branch over the swamp.

If you’re able to see large enough, it stuck it’s tongue out at me!

Great Blue Heron

Hey, Florida birds/wildlife, it’s great to be back!

Tags: bird, birding, birdwatching, Fakahatchee Strand, Florida, great blue heron, heron, nature, Preserve, profile, swamp, wildlife

32 thoughts on “Great Blue Heron In A Swamp”

John on 12/26/2020 at 7:02 PM said:

It sounds like you guys should pack it all up and move down there!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/26/2020 at 7:08 PM said:
  
  The thought has crossed our minds…. 😉
  
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Eliza Waters on 12/26/2020 at 7:22 PM said:

Aw, lucky you. Catch a few rays for me!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/26/2020 at 7:30 PM said:
  
  I will do that for you, Eliza! 🌞
  
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Jane's Heartsong on 12/26/2020 at 8:13 PM said:

Nice catch!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:41 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Jane!
  
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stormy5atlanticbbnet on 12/26/2020 at 8:40 PM said:

Yeah, saw the tongue! Good shot!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:41 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Carol!
  
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H.J. for avian101 on 12/26/2020 at 8:40 PM said:

Let me tell you that this morning the weather by me was 21ºF! You’re lucky to be in FL. Great shot of the GBH, Donna. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:47 AM said:
  
  21ºF?! 🥶 That sounds like home’s temps!! Very lucky AND thankful we can be in FL like we can. I’ll work on sending warm temps up your way….and some birds! 😊 Thank you, HJ!
  
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susanhale828gmailcom on 12/26/2020 at 9:34 PM said:

You have certainly had to adapt quickly to all the changes of 2020, and have managed to create a ‘win’ in all your choices. I love this heron photograph. I never tire of seeing them in our yard. On Christmas morning we had two – one along the shore and one right in the middle of our back yard – for at least two hours. Love those birds!!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:50 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Susan! It has been a trying time this year for all for sure. How nice to get to view two GBHs on Christmas Day in your yard, what a nice gift! They are beautiful birds!!
  
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Jane Lurie on 12/27/2020 at 1:02 AM said:

Beauty, Donna. 🤗

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:51 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Jane! 😊
  
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Alittlebitoutoffocus on 12/27/2020 at 2:23 AM said:

What a rude bird! 😉 But lucky you to be in the warmth of the Florida sunshine. It was minus 13 C (9 F) here the night before last. Brrrr… (No wonder that fox had a thick fur coat!)

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:54 AM said:
  
  hehe The GBH refused to take his tongue back in, it stayed that way in more than a dozen photos. 🥶 That is cold!! I’ll keep the warm temps here, send some up your way! 😉
  
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Reed Andariese on 12/27/2020 at 8:27 AM said:

Nice Donna! Looking forward to seeing your images from Florida! We decided not to go to Florida this year with all the restrictions, not knowing what we would find down there.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 10:21 AM said:
  
  Thanks, Reed! I can understand the canceling. If we didn’t have a ‘home on wheels’ to stay safe, we wouldn’t travel either. It is very remote where we are now, it has to be much safer than at our home area among thousands and thousands of people. Everglades City population is only 500. 🙂
  
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creatingmindblog on 12/27/2020 at 10:31 AM said:

What a great close up of the GBH, tongue and all! Love it! Enjoy your time in Florida! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:16 PM said:
  
  Thank you, it was a super find! It’s hard not to enjoy Florida this time of year, and for sure I’ll be giving it all my best shots! 😎 📷
  
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Indira on 12/27/2020 at 10:58 AM said:

Awesome capture of the heron, Donna!!
Enjoy your vacation 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:17 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Indira!! We will!! 🌞
  
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tootlepedal on 12/27/2020 at 4:01 PM said:

A fine heron shot. Thank you.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:18 PM said:
  
  Thank you Tom, and you’re welcome!
  
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Irene on 12/27/2020 at 6:56 PM said:

Hehe! Enjoy your time in the warmth. So sorry you missed out on time with the grandkids

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2020 at 7:30 PM said:
  
  Thanks, Irene, I will! Yea, it was a different Christmas this year for me. Just not the same. I hope next year IS normal again!!
  
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The Hinoeuma on 12/28/2020 at 2:36 AM said:

I love the blue ball cap.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/28/2020 at 8:09 AM said:
  
  It looks cool when it flairs as a mohawk too!
  
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Birder's Journey on 12/29/2020 at 9:13 AM said:

Welcome back to Florida and the amazing Everglades, Donna!☀️

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/29/2020 at 7:47 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Carol! Amazing is the right word!! 🌞
  
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Barbara Rodgers on 12/29/2020 at 10:26 AM said:

I’m excited for you being back in Florida with the wildlife! That’s a magnificent great blue heron, even with the tongue trick, a perfect portrait! Looking forward to your coming explorations…

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/29/2020 at 7:57 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Barbara, it’s been amazing so far! Birds are everywhere. I just have to make the hard decision (lol) on which direction to go and when. 😊
  
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