Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Great Blue Heron

The Great Blue Heron has always been a fascinating bird to me.  I do not like them invading my favorite fishing areas, but they are such a beautiful graceful bird in flight.  Their colors change with the season and are always beautiful.  Here a young one flies along the shore of Henrys Lake.


Several years ago this one speered a catfish and wore it for at least two days.


Here a young one hunts for minnow in the shallows.


This adult is chasing a rodent in a stubble field near Rexburg, but did not catch it.

Just another year around resident bird of Madison County.
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24 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlOctober 11, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    wow! the one in flight with the speared catfish is phenomenal! poor bird didn't know what he was getting into! :)

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  2. theconstantwalkerOctober 11, 2011 at 11:26 AM

    Wonderful images of your beautiful Heron... lovely to see.

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  3. UnknownOctober 11, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Great sequence. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  4. DaveOctober 11, 2011 at 12:37 PM

    Nice images of your local Great Blue Heron.

    This evening I had our local Grey Heron fly over the roof of my work, great site in suburbia

    Dave

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  5. mickOctober 11, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    A beautiful bird to be able to see year-round. The one with the fish on its beak is especially good.

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  6. Carol BlackburnOctober 11, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    Great shots, Bill. I can never get close enough to get shots like these.

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  7. eileeninmdOctober 11, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Great photos of the heron, Bill! My favorite is the one in flight with the fish.

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  8. Sallie (FullTime-Life)October 11, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    Happy to see you back and always happy to see your birds. (Do you mean that bird couldn't get rid of the fish?)

    I was strolling yesterday evening and daydreaming and scared up a great blue from his feeding spot -- even though I've seen many of them, his squack nearly gave me a heart attack!

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  9. MichelleOctober 11, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    I always enjoy watching these birds. Great captures.

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  10. ReenaOctober 11, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    the speared catfish is an awesome capture.
    I love these beautiful birds.

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  11. Kim, USAOctober 11, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    Wow this is awesome! Love your photos!

    WBW

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  12. MontanagirlOctober 12, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Fantastic captures! I love the Speared Catfish shot the best.

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  13. SpringmanOctober 12, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    Excellent series topped off by that crazy good #2 take of the heron carting off the catfish. I think the flyfishermen that stalk the river behind my house might learn a thing or two from watching a Blue heron ply it's trade. They can empty out a fishing hole I suppose, shame on 'em! Mostly I see them dining on minnows though.
    Fantastic post Bill!

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  14. jeanlivingsimpleOctober 12, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    Super shots of the GBH Bill!
    At least they don't fish for more than they can eat...at one meal.:)

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  15. Kathie BrownOctober 12, 2011 at 8:14 PM

    Great shots of the herons! I feel sorry for the one with the fish on its beak! What an amazing shot though.

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  16. ArijaOctober 13, 2011 at 3:20 AM

    Love those dark flight feathers. I have one fishing in our farm dam and do not mind at all as long as he keeps visiting.

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  17. AnonymousOctober 13, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Fabulous photos!

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  18. JRandSueNovember 4, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    Superb flight captures,love your header.
    John.

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  19. WendyNovember 16, 2011 at 6:25 PM

    Love the shot with the fish! Very nice photo!

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  20. Laurence ButlerNovember 22, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Cool shots. I know the feeling too about cool birds in my fishing spots. During the summer, I'm always taunted by the Osprey effortessly pulling trout out of the water, while I fiddle with corn or powerbait or whatever the locals say they're chompin on that day.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  21. MichelleNovember 24, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    I love that second shot with the fish.

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  22. Julie G.February 15, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    Glorious images of Great Blue Herons, Bill! They are one of my favorite birds to photograph. The action captures are especially outstanding. Beautiful! A joy to visit your wonderful blog.

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  23. LeslieFebruary 19, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    We have great blue herons here in Florida, too, and I find them amazing birds to photograph. That second photo of the heron who speared a catfish is especially good. I admire their beauty and dignity, but they are rather ruthless fellows around our neighborhood lakes... always after the baby ducklings.

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  24. AFTERMATHFebruary 28, 2012 at 7:47 AM

    Smashing GBH with fish! WOOOOOOOOOWWWW!

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