This last week or so, I have had several opportunities to capture “artistic” shots of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In these cases the heron was not actively engaged in fishing and was standing in the vegetation a bit removed from the water.
In the first two photos, I was struck by the beautiful light that was falling on the heron. I particularly like the heron’s pose in the first image in which the heron has his neck stretched out, giving him a very slim profile. In the final photo, the heron was partially hidden by the reeds and is much more hunched over in an effort, perhaps, to retain his body heat.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Awesome shots.
Thanks, Michael.
You’re welcome, Mike.
That lighting really is gorgeous and it highlights the heron’s head perfectly. I also love the way the shaggy feathers of the bird are complemented by the visual textures in the background.
Thanks, Laura. You always have a wonderful way of putting into words some of the same things that I am feeling about my photos.
you know I love herons! Good shots. In the second photo is that a wound at the top of his wing?
Thanks, Molly. I think that is just the coloration of the wing, though I can’t be absolutely sure.
Beautiful, Mike! I do like the first pose the best, for the same reasons as you. They are all wonderful captures!
Thanks. 🙂
You’re welcome 🙂
Beautiful, Mike. You captured the full color pallet of these beauties, along with the flowing look of the feathers.
Thanks, Ellen. Some winter days the herons are among the small number of birds that I see, so I am happy to be able to capture them so well.
Love all these GBH photos. I’m particularly taken with the last photo. Reminds me of when I was a kid watching an old lady who did canework. She’d have a base, and then sort out the vertical canes, and then start weaving canes horizontally in-and-out around the verticals. In my imagination the GBH is taking a rest break before carrying on with the horizontal weaving of his/her basket!
Thanks, Liz. I love the mental image of a heron weaving a basket and I can imagine one doing so. 🙂
That’s so awesome! Love it.
Oooo, cool captures.