Early yesterday morning, I was so focused on a Great Blue Heron that I spotted high in a tree that I didn’t even notice that there was a Bald Eagle in an adjacent tree until it took off almost right in front of me. Nearby, a female Belted Kingfisher loudly announced her presence with her unmistakable rattling call.
The sky was covered with heavy clouds and the forecast called for thunderstorms, which meant that lighting conditions were less than optimal for taking photos in a wooded area. Still, it felt great to be outdoors on the trails after a week of constrained activity thanks to our recent snowstorm.
I hadn’t seen a live Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) at my local marsh in quite some time, so I was excited when I caught sight of the heron, perched on broken-off tree at the edge of one of the marshy fields. The heron was almost a silhouette against the sky, but its shape is very easy to recognize when you see it in profile.
As I was creeping forward to get a clearer shot, I was startled when a large bird flew right across my field of view—I knew almost immediately that it was a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), although it too was mostly a shadowy silhouette as I viewed it through the branches of the trees. I was able to react quickly enough to get off a few shots before the eagle flew out of sight.
A short distance away, a female Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) was perched on the trunk of a rotted tree, intently staring down at the shallow water of the marsh, looking for prey. That water prevented me from getting closer to her, but I did manage to capture her distinctive pose through the branches.
I am an early bird by habit and it was great to be outdoors in the “wilds” of my suburban marsh to see what other early birds I could find.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Wonderful shots but a Kingfisher, just awesome!
Obviously, that marsh is such a fascinating place. You are so lucky … and I’m so glad you share your adventures
amazing Blog,nice to be here,Regards
Thanks. I shoot a variety of subjects, mostly wildlife, birs, and insects, and I am glad you enjoy the images.
What an active place your marsh was, and especially nice having a bald eagle swoop by. I imagine finding a living great blue heron was very welcomed after your recent sad find. I really enjoy your findings and photos Michael.
Thanks. I really do live in a suburban area, so it’s a real treat to have so much wildlife in one place. The marsh is managed to try to maximize its biodiversity. Indeed it was nice to see a blue heron yesterday and I’ll probably post a few more shots of the one I saw yesterday morning (I saw him later in the day).
Wow, you were batting a thousand! Three marvelous birds in one place, at one time. Impressive!
Thanks. It was really cool to see them all in a short period of time, though conditions did not permit me to get great shots.–it seems like it is either feast or famine when it comes to spotting wildlife in general.
Great photos, but partial to the Kingfisher. Have a hard time get a photo of one. Happy Birding.
Thanks. I am able to get photos of the Kingfisher from time to time, but have real trouble getting one close-up.