I spotted a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) perched in a tree last Friday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, calmly surveying the area, as shown in the second shot. As I drew closer, I could sense the heron beginning to gather itself. I managed to capture the first image as the Great Blue Heron leaped into the air, preparing to take flight.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I’m so accustomed to your detailed close-ups of insects – terrific to see these excellent distance shots of birds in flight (and, ‘in hiding’☺️).
We’re starting to get to the time of the year when the number of insects diminishes significantly. I remember when the first year when I got serious about photography and photographed a lot of flowers and bugs. I wondered what I would do in the cold months and then I discovered the joy of photographing birds. This time of the year is a transitional time and I have to choose carefully where I look and what lens I put on my camera–there are still lots of insects and birds to see and photograph.
Fantastic action shot. Herons normally look so graceful but it looks a bit dorky in mid-leap. (No judgment because I normally look dorky and never graceful.)
Great capture, Mike. I love watching them take flight. Of all the large birds I’ve seen (not nearly as extensive a collection as you) I think they are the most graceful at getting airborne. I have only ever see they leaving the side of the river, after eating breakfast, but they make it look so simple, and they are so quick that I’ve never been able to get a picture until they are in flight. Then again, that may be 50/50 their speed and my lack thereof.
My experience is quite similar to yours, Dan, in terms of the grace of the great blue herons. In this case, I think things were a bit awkward initially, because the heron was on a pretty precarious perch and couldn’t simply push off. It’s rare for me to capture shots of one taking off out of the water, but here is a link to one of the times when I did. https://michaelqpowell.com/2016/11/06/gentle-liftoff/
Thanks Mike. It was good to see that again.
Nice Mike! Like the wing positions in the featured image!