I inadvertently spooked a Great Blue Heron (Aredea herodias) on Wednesday at Occoquan Regional Park and captured this first image as it flew up to a perch high in a nearby tree. It was really cool to see the heron’s impressive wingspan as it came in for a landing in the tree. The second image shows the Great Blue Heron as it surveyed its surroundings from its new perch.
When I was just starting out in wildlife photography, I remember being shocked the first time that I saw a Great Blue Heron in a tree. I somehow had assumed that they spent all of their time in the shallow water or at the edge of ponds. Little did I know at that time that Great Blue Herons build their nests in the trees and often spend their nights roosting in trees to protect themselves from potential predators.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Splendid captures!
That is spectacular, Mike. We see Great Blue Herons at our local pond all the time, but it’s hard to capture a picture of their wingspan.
They are spectacular. We have quite a few here. Lovely pics!
No matter how often I see a Great Blue Heron, I continue to be impressed.
Good photographs, Mike.
Very cool “wingspan” shot. Herons are fascinating birds, imo. I never get tired of them.
I see herons often and enjoy watching them too. I especially appreciate the fact they are with us all year round, unlike the Green Herons, Great Egrets, and Osprey that leave when the weather start to get cold.
Very funny story. But you are far from alone. When I worked in the nature park years ago, people used to be shocked by seeing herons and egrets in the trees all the time. We had a good sized colony above our gator pond. I learned that they like to nest above areas with gators around. The gators keep predators like raccoons from climbing the trees and taking eggs and babies.