The mind can sometimes make strange associations. From the moment that I saw the pose of the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in this image, I couldn’t help but think that it looked like the kind of dragon that you see in movies and in children’s cartoons.
I took this shot in mid-December, while I was walking along the boardwalk in the familiar confines of my local marshland park. The heron had been fishing in the shallow waters of a former beaver pond to the left and decided to move to the water on the other side of the boardwalk. Rather than fly directly to the new location, the heron decided to hop up onto the surface of the boardwalk.
I posted a somewhat similar photo on 9 December, but I like this one better—the pose is more interesting, the focus is a little sharper, and the colors of the heron are more vibrant. Herons are a relatively commonplace bird in the locations I visit, but I never tire of trying to capture images of these fascinating creatures.
Does the heron remind you of a dragon? As children, we had no trouble believing in magical creatures, but, alas, most of us lost that capacity as we grew into adults.
It brings to mind a quote from one of my favorite books, Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, “Les grandes personnes ne comprennent jamais rien toutes seules, et c’est fatigant, pour les enfants, de toujours et toujours leur donner des explications.” (Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiring for children to be always having to explain things to them).
A dragon? Why not?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I agree; if only we all had small children who could guide us through life.
I think it would be a very boring world if we all saw the same thing each time we looked at something.
I agree – this pose does look like those storybook creatures. Looks like he’s about to take off – or…just fluffing up?
A few seconds after this shot, he took off, as you anticipated
Love the coloring on this heron…he does have the dragon ready for flight look. If you are interested, I just posted a couple of bird shots that are a bit “unique”…two are blue heron.
Thanks. I checked out your wonderful bird images and those shots definitely show that there are always possibilities to catch birds in new and different poses.
One of the things I love so much about being a grandfather is the refreshing ability to see the world through young eyes again and recapture some of the wonder that’s faded into the background since I was really young, and again since my daughters were. I try to hang on to that, and she sure helps. How appropriate for a solstice contemplation!
Thanks, Gary. I don’t know if you follow Leanne Cole, but she just did a posting that included photos taken by a 5 year old with a Crayola camera. (http://leannecolephotography.com/2014/12/21/weekend-wanderings-christmas-through-the-eyes-of-a-child/). I hadn’t considered that today was the day of the winter solstice when I wrote the posting, but I agree that it is somehow appropriate.
Very beautiful!
I won’t be seeing this bird for awhile, so it is great seeing it here. I just left this same comment on another blog. The heron was in the grasses and here it is beautifully ready to take a dip. I love this photo because I rarely see them doing much. When you visited GWGT, I had scheduled the post wrong to coordinate the owls on NaWP, but I fixed it in case you tried to see them there.
Nice one Mike, i like this less typical pose of the heto and you have also quoted from one of my favourites books, le Petit Prince. I can see the dragon! There must still be some kid in me… Still some hope, hey! Talking about favourite books, have you read Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach? Everytime I see birds soaring, iand we see many as we sail in the ocean I think of some of its beautiful passages. Chris
It’s been ages since I read it, but I definitely remember Jonathan Living Seagull. I think that it is great to be able to keep some of your chidlike self alive–to be able to see the world with the kind of wide-eyed amazement that kids seem to have.