Tag: picture of Great Blue Heron

Today’s Catch – Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Cardinal

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Today was a picture perfect day. As I walked around the pond, with the intention of getting exercise, one bird after another caught my eye. And though it didn’t make a stop at the pond, a Great Blue Heron flew directly overhead.
Above is a single shot of the bird. And here is a Picasa slide show of the same bird. You can click on this slide show image to see it nearly full screen.

I think this will be the year I am able to post with pride photos of the Red-winged Blackbird. Here is today’s assembly of shots. (Remember that you can click on any image to enlarge. Then use your back arrow to return to the post.) And posing for my pleasure, a male Cardinal enjoys the sun.
With today’s distractions, I’ll try again tomorrow to exercise.

My Welcome Back

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I’ve been ‘off-site’ for two weeks, enjoying the slow paced life on an island off the coast of Maine. But, along with that slow pace was limited internet access. So my blog sat idle, despite my planning ahead by categorizing photos for posts I intended to write during my time away. But having returned home yesterday, I today, with pleasure, enjoyed many turns around the pond as I became reacquainted with the setting. My first impression was that the foliage is dull. The green luster is all but gone and nearly most of the blossoms have died off. Here, Joe-Pye-Weed is barely recognizable as it goes to seed, and the once brilliant green foliage that highlighted its setting turns brown.

A Heron and I danced our dance, eying one another while keeping out of each other’s way. It had been a long while since I’d seen a Heron at the pond, and it was a welcome site.

It displayed its skill in fishing, catching one and ‘savoring’ it in one big gulp. The photo below catches the action, but the skill and speed at which the catch occurs, outmatched me with my camera. The photo is not great quality. (But, do note the duck in the lower right, floating along unruffled as nature’s brutality unfolds just feet away. The same duck, which I believe to be a female mallard, is pictured at the top of this post. In that picture, please see her lovely colors by clicking on the image to enlarge it. Use your back arrow to return to the post.)

I share the next picture of the Heron to pass on an observation. I was about ten feet from the bird when I took this. I stood for ten minutes or more, watching as it stayed perfectly still, nothing moving but what looked to be a twitching muscle at the top of its neck. Its mouth hung just open as you see in the photo. It appeared to be in a trance, its eyes staring. I have seen the Heron freeze in place from afar. It will hold its pose for an amazing amount of time, waiting to strike and catch its prey. I wondered if I was observing this state of readiness as I watched what you see in this picture. Before the scene could play out, someone passed by and frightened the bird into flight.

I share the picture below – a wonderful presentation of the Heron in its element. Here it stalks under the cover of growth along the pond’s bank.

As I left the pond, I passed by a cluster of aster, looking all the world to be at the height of its growing season, despite the dullness around it. It was a lovely reminder of the brightness of the summer flowers, on this first day of the fall season.

And, hope for the next summer season came in the fluffy puff balls of seeds ready to take flight in the image below.

My time in Maine was wonderful. I might not be thrilled to return to my full work schedule, but I am happy to be nearby the pond.

Bonus Photo: I was tired when I arrived home late in the afternoon yesterday. After unpacking the car, I fed and walked the dog. One lap around the pond with him tugging, sniffing, stopping, territorally ‘going’ was enough for me, so I returned him to the house and went back to the pond for a lap alone. It was just twilight and had become too dark for photos. As I returned to my driveway, I ran into a neighbor who, knowing I’d been away, alerted me to a coyote sighting in our neighborhood. As I got the details, something made me glance to my right, where the coyote stood 30 feet from us, observing, listening, contemplating – who knows. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Here is a photo I took. Generally, I wouldn’t bother to put a photo of such poor quality in my blog. And, you certainly can find better representations of this animal online. But, as this canine is a bit out of its element, and the first I’ve ever seen, I share the picture. It was as big as a large German Shephard. You may need to angle your screen to get its outline. Pretend you are wearing night vision goggles! I nervously hope to see it again, in better light.

Harsh Realities

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At the start of this month, I announced the arrival of five Mallard ducklings. (See my July 6 post.) I have not written about them since – for two reasons. First, within 48 hours of first seeing them, their count was at four. I just didn’t have the heart to break the news to my readers. Second, my sightings of the family do not occur often, so there was nothing to report. And, each day I didn’t see them I was glad, as it meant the mother was keeping them well hidden. I did wonder where they were, however.

Then one day, I accidentally frightened them from their hideout. I had moved close to the shore at one end of the pond to take a picture of a flower, and with much commotion the mother and her four babies scurried from the reeds and paddled away from me. No sooner had they hit the water, when there was much splashing. A turtle had snapped at them and they all scattered. My heart sank. But, I was relieved to observe the ducklings scurry back to their mother’s side, and cluster around her – like little magnetic bumper cars – as she brought them to safety.

I have stayed away from that area since. But, one day early this week, I did see the now even smaller family – three offspring – in the same section of reeds. Here’s how they are looking. I watched them for half an hour, hoping to see a fourth duckling, but no such luck.

Today, late in the afternoon, the Heron arrived. It landed about twenty yards from the place where I had seen the ducks. For fifteen or more minutes, it crept, step by step, nearer and nearer to the area where I’m sure the Mallard family hides.

I shot several pictures of the Heron and moved closer more than once for a better view. While I contemplated actively scaring it off, to my relief, it decided my presence was enough of a deterrent and it flew off.

While I’d been wondering if the turtles were snatching the babies, a neighbor suggested it was the Heron. I think my neighbor is right.