A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Ardea herodias
We have a number of great blue herons locally, as well as egrets, osprey and a few young bald eagles. This one is sitting on a dock railing, watching for fish; and is still sitting there as I type this. These are amazingly patient fishing birds, who will sit or stand in one position for long stretches of time, waiting for their meal to swim nearby.
Tidal river; this photo was taken as the tide is coming in. While we have mostly fresh water, when the tide comes in, there is some mixing of salt water from the Atlantic.
Spotted on Aug 25, 2012
Submitted on Aug 25, 2012
4 Comments
It always astonishes me how silent they are while those huge wings flap, and then those funky long legs hanging out there in back make it look like what I'd imagine would be a Pterodactyl or other flying dinosaur...
Prehistoric! That is the word! I am always found speechless when I see these beauties fly!
Thank you J! I wish I had video running just now, as the heron just flew past me--and when they fly, they look prehistoric with those long legs trailing behind.
Very nice find!