Still hunkered down

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Still hunkered down

January 1, 2021 by Mike Powell

And so the new year begins. In many ways I feel like this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) that I spotted on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, alert and wide-eyed, but hunkered down alone on the sidelines, cautiously waiting until it is safe to engage more fully.

The Great Blue Heron in the second image was the final bird I photographed in 2020—I captured this image yesterday afternoon. This heron appeared to be fishing, standing motionless for a long time, watching and waiting and hoping. Perhaps there is a lesson for us here as well as we begin 2021. Patience has been in somewhat short supply this past year and we could all use more of it this year.

Happy New Year to all of you and to your loved ones.

Posted in Birds, Nature, new year, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 50D, Great Blue Heron, New Year 2021, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 18 Comments

18 Responses

on January 1, 2021 at 8:25 am | Reply susurrus

Happy New Year to you too. I’m practicing patience as the year begins, but am not yet as good as a heron. 🙂
- on January 1, 2021 at 9:00 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I must admit that most of the time I tend to grow impatient faster than the heron does and leave before the decisive moment happens.
on January 1, 2021 at 9:18 am | Reply Ellen

I came across these words several years ago, but they became a mantra throughout 2020. “Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” – David G. Allen. Happy New Year! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
on January 1, 2021 at 9:26 am | Reply kenneturner

Patience is a very important life tool. Something we often don’t invest enough in.
on January 1, 2021 at 9:44 am | Reply dianaed14

So great to see these birds in their habitat
on January 1, 2021 at 9:57 am | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

Happy New Year, Mike. I share the attitude of you and the heron.
on January 1, 2021 at 10:43 am | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Happy New Year to you, too, Mike. I agree with hunkered down, waiting and watching. I would add, as more and more folks I know get sick, Will it even be safe in this calendar year? Oh to be a heron and just fly away! Guess I better adopt Ellen’s quote!
on January 1, 2021 at 11:08 am | Reply Laura Denise

Happy New Year, dear Mike! 💕
on January 1, 2021 at 4:20 pm | Reply Ms. Liz

Lovely post to start the New Year. Happy 2021 Mike!
- on January 1, 2021 at 4:28 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Liz. I’m feeling somewhat contemplative as I start the new year and it sort of shows in my approach to the post. 🙂
  - on January 1, 2021 at 5:04 pm Ms. Liz
    
    It spoke to me! Looking forward to more 🙂
on January 1, 2021 at 5:15 pm | Reply sv-anui.com

Safe and healthy 2021 Mike. I really like that first image showing the heron’s beautiful plumage.
- on January 1, 2021 at 6:22 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. Best wishes for a safe and exciting new year for you, Wade, and Bengie.
on January 1, 2021 at 6:15 pm | Reply Dan Antion

He seems more at ease than I am, Mike.

Happy New Year.
on January 1, 2021 at 9:40 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Good message, Mike. I esp. like that first image – calendar-worthy!
- on January 2, 2021 at 7:37 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. The lighting and the setting added a lot to what might have otherwise been an average photo.
on January 2, 2021 at 10:02 pm | Reply krikitarts

As you said to Liz, I’m sure that contemplation is a feeling that we all share at this start of the new year. Hopefully more folks will engage in it seriously. Love the sombre tones in your remarkable first portrait and wish you an excellent year.
- on January 2, 2021 at 10:33 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. I may do a mini-retrospective for 2020, which was a banner year for my blog, but mostly I am looking forward and not backward. Best wishes for you in 2021.