Tag Archives: great blue heron

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no hands

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Our heron is grooming again. We had a discussion last night: do they have more bones in the neck than people? And what about giraffes?

Here is a lovely blog post about birds and bones and herons’ necks from 2013: http://rosy-finch.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-unfeathered-bird-review-and.html. Add that book to my wish list, it sounds both gorgeous and fascinating.

 

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groom

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Our heron keeps an eye on us, her paparazzi, but begins to groom her feathers in the early morning fun. I am thinking about keeping my balance on the branch, way up in the air, and then I cannot do that with my neck. She is amazing! And so calm and relaxed moving on a high branch in the tree.

For the Daily Prompt: athletic. I wish I were that strong and limber.

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zoom

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Oh, hoorah for zoom lenses, because I feel like I am standing on another branch to photograph our heron. My friend goes to the other side of the tree and I work my way around. We are great blue heron paparazzi, in love with our subject, taking picture after picture.

However, we did not get her to fly from the dock. That was another boat arriving and a person walking out.

 

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tall tree

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Our heron flew to these trees: see? I crop the photo and there she is.

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I am saying she, but I don’t know. For so long we have used “he” to mean both he and she. Let’s reverse that for the next 2000 years, use “she” to mean both she and he. Turn around is fair, right?

And those are really big trees. She doesn’t look so out of place standing there. Nor would I have noticed her if I had not followed her flight.

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flight

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For the Daily Prompt: coincidence. I had my camera ready and caught this. Coincidence or skill? Some of each, and trying to catch birds in flight is very much like trying to catch synchronized swimmers out of the water. I photographed synchro for seven years.

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without earbuds 8

I am two blocks from home, walking in my neighborhood (7).

She perches in the top of one of the trees. I zoom in again. Look back at that first picture. She is in one of the tall trees behind the cars, right at the top.

She looks like a very interesting Christmas tree topper.

Blessings, beautiful great blue heron! I think of you along rivers and ponds and swamps, but what a privilege to see you flying to perch in a tree! In three trees! Three blocks from my home!

I feel blessed.

She is one of the many reasons I walk without earbuds and listen and watch for the birds.