Happy heron

March 28, 2020 by Mike Powell

“Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, I’ve got a beautiful feeling everything’s going my way.” I started my Thursday morning at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge with this handsome Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) who seemed to be serenading me.

If you have ever heard the squawk of a Great Blue Heron, you know why it is best that there is no soundtrack. Instead, I recommend that you click on this link to a YouTube video of the song that I cited in my opening sentence from the classic 1955 movie “Oklahoma”—it is guaranteed to brighten your day.

Posted in Birds, Inspiration, Nature, Photography, spring, wildlife | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 50D, Great Blue Heron, happy heron, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, singing heron, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 26 Comments

26 Responses

on March 28, 2020 at 9:34 am | Reply Platypus Man

Fabulous shot. Caught in the act of yodelling?
- on March 28, 2020 at 9:38 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Yodeling? Sounds good to me. Now I think I have the Lonely Goatherd song stuck in my head from the Sound of Music. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmmOJx_Hxto). 🙂
  - on March 28, 2020 at 4:55 pm krikitarts
    
    Thanks a lot, Mike, now that’s stuck in my mind’s ear too. That happens fairly often these days. In fact, speaking of yodeling, do you know the music of Bill Staines? Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmYh0VMTLSc
  - on March 28, 2020 at 6:54 pm Mike Powell
    
    I was not aware of him, but was definitely impressed by his yodeling song. It’s amazing especially when he does the it at high speed.
on March 28, 2020 at 10:28 am | Reply mitzybricker

Wonderful and cheerful! 😀

Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
- on March 28, 2020 at 11:38 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mitzy. I know that birds for the most part cannot show emotion, especially in their faces, I often impute emotions to them and this one just seemed to be happy. 🙂
on March 28, 2020 at 10:45 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Very Nice Mike! Looks like it has a lot to say!
- on March 28, 2020 at 11:38 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I think it was actually a yawn, but that would not have made for an interesting post. 🙂
on March 28, 2020 at 11:04 am | Reply Steve Gingold

Cronnnnk! Happy Heron…Happy Mike?
- on March 28, 2020 at 11:36 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Absolutely, it made Mike happy. I think we are always looking for something different and usually the only time I see a heron open its mouth that wide is when it is swallowing a fish.
on March 28, 2020 at 11:25 am | Reply David P.

A magnificent bird. On a recent shoot, I was photographing one of these birds, and a mommy and her little girl strolled by. The little girl exclaimed, “Mommy, look! It’s a crane!” Crane? Egret? Heron? It can be rather confusing.
- on March 28, 2020 at 11:35 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I have heard the same comment made, although it was a parent telling a child. I didn’t have the heart to correct them on the spot, though I knew full well it was a Great Blue Heron, not a crane. The more that I shoot, the more I grow familiar with certain species, like herons and egrets, though I confess that sparrow identification remains a challenge.
  - on March 29, 2020 at 3:48 pm David P.
    
    I left a reply to your comment on my YouTube channel regarding the gaffe. It was a careless oversight. I ended up producing an edited version, and correcting the original with a simple caption. I’m surprised H.J. didn’t call me out on that goof!
  - on March 29, 2020 at 3:58 pm Mike Powell
    
    Thanks, David. I got that message. I suspected that it was a simple error but figured it best to let you know. 🙂
on March 28, 2020 at 11:42 am | Reply Michael Scandling

Makes me happy. A hearty heron hello.
- on March 28, 2020 at 11:45 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Michael. I love the alliteration in your comment. It’s hard for a bird to smile, but this one seemed to do so.
on March 28, 2020 at 11:57 am | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Right now that odd raspy croak is sorely missed. All rookeries are closed, at least any I may be able to access. Walking the far marshes is still an option, which we have taken advantage of.

Thanks for sharing, stay safe.
- on March 28, 2020 at 12:18 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ted. A lot of places are closed here, but so far I still have some options. I chuckled at your characterization of the heron “song” as an “odd, raspy croak,” which is a perfect description. Take care, Ted (and, of course, Ellen too).
on March 28, 2020 at 12:04 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Great capture, Mike. I’m sure that is the translation of most birdsong. 😉
on March 28, 2020 at 12:19 pm | Reply joyroses13

A great uplift for this rainy, quarantined day! 🙂 Thanks! Great picture.
- on March 28, 2020 at 4:02 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. It is quite a gloomy day, so I am glad I could do my part to spread a little cheer.
  - on March 28, 2020 at 4:21 pm joyroses13
    
    😊
on March 28, 2020 at 5:33 pm | Reply Peter Hillman

Ha ha! That’s a great shot, Mike! 🙂
on March 28, 2020 at 6:10 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

My ALL time favorite bird! …iBird Pro helps with identification, song, etc. I heard a Great Blue once in a lonely creek. It was raucous! Just made me laugh to hear and see it. It was a HUGE one.
on March 28, 2020 at 7:08 pm | Reply kenneturner

Mike, I know the feeling.
- on March 28, 2020 at 8:01 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, kenne. Being out in the wild definitely has a kind of therapeutic effect on many of us.