“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”βit is guaranteed to brighten your day.
Β© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Fabulous shot. Caught in the act of yodelling?
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). π
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
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.
Wonderful and cheerful! π
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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. π
Very Nice Mike! Looks like it has a lot to say!
I think it was actually a yawn, but that would not have made for an interesting post. π
Cronnnnk! Happy Heron…Happy Mike?
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.
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.
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.
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!
Thanks, David. I got that message. I suspected that it was a simple error but figured it best to let you know. π
Makes me happy. A hearty heron hello.
Thanks, Michael. I love the alliteration in your comment. It’s hard for a bird to smile, but this one seemed to do so.
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.
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).
Great capture, Mike. I’m sure that is the translation of most birdsong. π
A great uplift for this rainy, quarantined day! π Thanks! Great picture.
Thanks. It is quite a gloomy day, so I am glad I could do my part to spread a little cheer.
π
Ha ha! That’s a great shot, Mike! π
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.
Mike, I know the feeling.
Thanks, kenne. Being out in the wild definitely has a kind of therapeutic effect on many of us.