We finally had a sunny day, so I ventured out yesterday to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in search of subjects. I was happy to find an alert Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in the open. During my most recent trips to this refuge, the weather was usually cold and overcast, the heron was often hunched over at the far edge of a pond, doing its best to stay warm.
Despite the sunshine, the wind was kicking up periodically, ruffling the heron’s feathers in an almost comical way. His “bed head” reminded me of my youth. I often had a cowlick at the back of my head and I remember my Mom licking her fingers and trying to flatten it down with her saliva.
Unlike the Great Egrets that leave our area when the weather turns cold, Great Blue Herons remain with us throughout the wind. They somehow manage to survive through the frigid weather and occasional snow—I suspect that this heron was not at all bothered by a little wind.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
He looks a little shaggy, but you’re right, he doesn’t appear to be bothered.
Wonderful photo, Mike, moody and wintry. I like how his legs mimic the reeds.
Thanks, Jet. It’s often hard to capture the mood of a moment, but somehow it worked for this image. Winter still has us in its grasp, but there are a few signs that spring will be coming.
That’s how my hair would look on a windy day, if I had that much left!
Great “mood” shot, Mike. Expectation of spring on the way.
Nice Great Blue Heron image Mike! Enjoyed seeing it!
Nice portrait, Mike… a bit wild!
Thanks, Eliza. I like it when I can capture the “wild” in wildlife. 🙂
I was surprised to learn that Great Blue Herons overwinter as far north as Ontario. They’re a lot tougher than I realized. I don’t worry about ours quite as much now when it dips below freezing.
Wow. That is ever farther north than I expected. In my area, there always seem to be patches of open water somewhere even when the small ponds freeze over, so I guess that helps the herons survive. I would think, though, that everything would freeze solid in Ontario, but, as you noted, herons are a lot tougher than we realize.
The fellow who posted their photos says that any open water will do for them — even a slight flow in the middle of the ice.