Category Archives: Egret
Great Blue Herons Guest…Graceful Egret
Graceful Egret Preening – babsjeheron
And the Herons? They’re a study of Patience and Grace.
Isn’t the above Egret graceful and serene, also an image of patience and grace?
I have written so frequently that Herons are a study in Patience and Grace that it’s almost a mantra.
“But, but…” you might say – that bird pictured above isn’t a Heron at all!
And you would be mistaken, like so many of us. The kind experts at Rolling Harbour Abaco weigh in decisively with some interesting history for fellow bird geeks:
The Great Egret is actually a heron rather than an egret. It’s a Great Heron. All egrets are members of the heron family Ardeidae, but the converse is not true. As long ago as 1758, Linnaeus awarded the bird the binomial name Ardea alba i.e. ‘Heron white‘. Why it should have been so hard to stick to that authoritative nomenclature, I can’t imagine. Perhaps in time all heron and egret species became so hopelessly confusing for people that it ceased to matter much what they were called.
“All egrets are members of the heron family Ardeidae, but the converse is not true.”
So, this is like squares and rectangles, isn’t it? All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares.
I know Becky B gets it!
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The Great Blue Herons are gracing the gallery walls through February 24th (my birthday) for a one-woman all-Heron show at the Summer Street Gallery, of The Center for Arts in Natick.
Great Blue Herons at TCAN Lobby January & February 2022 – babsjeheron
“Why Great Blue Herons?” I have been often asked. The poet William Stafford answers it best:
When I Met My Muse
I glanced at her and took my glasses
off–they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. “I am your own
way of looking at things,” she said. “When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation.” And I took her hand.When I Met My Muse
by William Stafford
Ask Me: 100 Essential Poems of William Stafford
Since 2001, the Center for Arts Natick has been housed in the circa 1875 historic Central Fire House, where the Summer Street Gallery provides an opportunity for accomplished visual artists in the region to have their work prominently displayed for TCAN’s diverse and loyal audience.
The Center for Arts Natick believes the arts are essential to a complete human experience and to the creation of a vibrant, healthy community. TCAN serves the Boston MetroWest region by increasing opportunities to experience, participate in, and learn about the arts. To this end, TCAN strives to present arts programs of the highest standard that are available to everyone. TCAN dedicates its resources to providing community access to diverse arts programs, reducing barriers to attendance, and building appreciation through arts education.
If you’re in the Boston or Metro West area, please stop by to see the Great Blue Herons. As always, many of the photos were taken on the waterways of the Charles River watershed.
The gallery is open whenever the box office is open, so please check hours here.
And who knows, maybe I’ll see you there one day.
I’d like that.
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Cee Neuner, Debhie Smyth, Becky B, and the community of Lens Artists encourage the entire international network of photographers and writers. Please click the links below to see the beautiful offerings from these wonderful photographers.
The focus for this week’s Lens Artist challenge hosted by Anne is “Water.” Probably 80% of my posts include water, why should today be any different.
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Thanks to Cee for her CBWC: Rocks, Boulders, Stones.
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Thanks to Becky for her The Square Odds challenge. Yes, it’s hip to be square!
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Thanks to Debbie for her Six Word Saturday: Sometimes Her Highness’ Finger Goes Missing.
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From Anne Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 187: Water .
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From Tina Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 187: Water .
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From Patti Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 187: Water .
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From Amy Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 187: Water .
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From Leya Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 187: Water .
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Natick Center Cultural District logo
Folks, now that some areas are opening back up, please consider supporting your local Arts communities – whether music, theater, crafts, visual arts venues, and others. All have been impacted over the past year and a half and they need your love more than ever.
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The Natick Center Cultural District is situated in a friendly, classic New England town hosting a vibrant, contemporary fusion of art, culture and business. Click here and here to learn more!
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My brick & mortar presence in Massachusetts dates back to 2009 in several local venues/galleries.
TCAN – The Center for Arts Natick – Current one-woman photography show through February 2022
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Natick Town Hall – Current group exhibit thru June 2022
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Five Crows Gallery in Natick – Represented since 2013
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Audubon Sanctuary
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Be a fly on the wall! Please CLICK HERE to see the Great Blue Herons gracing the gallery walls.
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Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
May the Muse be with you.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2003-2022 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Great Blue Heron, Kayaking, TCAN, Five Crows, Natick, Egret
Read the rest of this entry
Great Egret for Not-So-Wordless Wednesday
Egret lunging from the shore to catch a fish – babsjeheron
The fisherman and the Egret stared at each other. Clearly, the fisherman was the more surprised of the two.
He didn’t miss a beat, though, following through on the cast he had just played out with a flick of his wrist.
Soundlessly, he reeled in a small fish, and as though guided by instinct, he unhooked it and tossed it back…
Back Into the waters directly in front of the Egret, who lunged after it in an explosion of white, wings-akimbo, feathers flying.
Egret flips fish inside her bill – babsjeheron.
Nature presents us with scenes of exquisite beauty.
When it comes to wildlife photography, so many of those experiences are never caught with a camera. Wildlife is shy and fast and elusive and unpredictable. Weather conditions don’t always cooperate. Digital film cards fill up at inopportune moments. Lens caps left on the camera inadvertently cause missed shots. Sunlight can be too bright or too dim. Insensitive gawkers scare off the wild creatures. I could go on and on.
On this day, however, the universe conspired with the Egret and fisherman and served up a tasty morsel for the Egret, and an unexpected photo opportunity for me there along the shoreline.
Egret submerges her head to land a fish – babsjeheron
It was thrilling to watch these two interacting, fishing man and fishing bird. How I wanted to be fishing with them, fish fishing instead of camera fishing. How I wanted a fish, myself, to toss to the Egret like the fisherman, who was practicing catch and release. How I wanted to know the feeling of the bird coming to me for a fish, the way Border Collie Rogue gambols up for a Milk Bone at the boathouse.
Just once.
But that would be wrong.
Which brings me back around to catch and release fishing. I’m sure that for as long as man has been trying to catch fish throughout the millennia, opportunistic birds have been trying to get man’s leftovers. Is there ever a fishing trawler that pulls into port without a flock of birds trailing along after it’s stern? How about the gulls circling and lurking above the sea walls up and down our coasts where anglers try their luck? It’s not the fishermen’s fault – the birds are very smart.
Egret fishing intently – babsjeheron.
There is a socialization between man and wild bird that has been taking place for eons, whether we’re aware of it or not, whether we like it or not. Speaking for myself, I am a little disheartened when I hear photographers talk about how tame the birds are in such-and-such a place and encourage others to come on down to see the tame birds up close.
There in the cove that day, I felt torn. While the photographer that I am was thrilled by the photo op served up, I felt concerned to see this magnificent Egret so very tame. It wasn’t the fisherman’s fault – I’m sure that Egret has been panhandling fish for a long time. The Egret has been lucky so far, but the risk of being snagged by a wayward fishhook from a poorly-cast line is real. The risk of being entangled in fishing line is very real, as I blogged in the story of a Great Blue Heron ensnared by fishing line: Happy Ending to Beautiful Great Blue Heron Rescue .
And so I love this gorgeous, graceful Egret as an artist loves all of her models, but I can’t help thinking: wild birds needs to be just that to survive safely.
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This post is prompted by Cee Neuner, and the creative and inspiring Lens Artists Tina, Amy, Patti, and Leya, all of whom encourage the community of photographers and writers. Please click the links below to see the beautiful offerings from these wonderful photographers.
The focus for this week’s Lens Artist challenge hosted by Tina is “Interesting Architecture.” One of the boathouses has interesting architecture. During the late 19th century, canoeing was very popular in the area. The boathouse building shown was previously a police station and jail! Amazing architecture for a 19th century jail.
Charles River Boathouse – babsjeheron
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Thanks to Cee for her Hunt for joy. I don’t know if this challenge is still on, but I really like the idea of searching for joy. The Herons and Egrets bring joy.
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From Tina Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 173: Interesting Architecture .
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From Patti Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 173: Interesting Architecture .
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From Amy Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 173: Interesting Architecture .
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From Leya Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 173: Interesting Architecture.
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Folks, now that some areas are opening back up, please consider supporting your local Arts communities – whether music, theater, crafts, visual arts venues, and others. All have been impacted over the past year and a half and they need your love more than ever.
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Natick Artists Sidewalk Chalk
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Please join Natick Artists on November 13 on Zoom from 2-5 pm ET for a Virtual Exhibition & Sale. The Natick Artists deferred their scheduled Open Studios until Spring 2022 due to COVID, but didn’t want to wait to see you again. They’re all looking forward to sharing artwork with you in this safe virtual environment. Zoom link: November 13 2-5pm ET
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85739018397?pwd=MDlGbXpPMitTZklERE1oR1ozMmRmZz09
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My brick & mortar presence in Massachusetts dates back to 2009 in several local venues/galleries.
Please watch this space for news of my upcoming Winter 2022 gallery show.
TCAN – The Center for Arts Natick
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Natick Town Hall
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Five Crows Gallery in Natick
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Audubon Sanctuary
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Be a fly on the wall! Please CLICK HERE to see the Great Blue Herons gracing the gallery walls.
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Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
May the Muse be with you.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2003-2021 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Great Blue Heron, Kayaking, TCAN, Five Crows, Natick
Read the rest of this entry
Beautiful Great Egret Keeping it Light
Egret lunging from the shore to catch a fish – babsjeheron
Egret in profile – babsjeheron
The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.
~ Lewis Carroll
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
Egret looks inside – babsjeheron
“Hmmm,” said Egret to nobody in particular. “The book says that the rabbit-hole goes straight like a tunnel… This looks like a tunnel to me. Could this be that famous rabbit-hole, I wonder?”
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Egret investigates another tunnel – babsjeheron
“Or, maybe this tunnel here is the real rabbit-hole?” muttered Egret. “Looks like it goes straight, too, but it’s too dark in there to see if it dips suddenly down. What I wouldn’t give for a lantern right about now.”
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Curious egret peers into entrance – babsjeheron
Egret was thinking to himself, “These tunnels are all starting to look the same to me,” until he came across this one. “Yikes, there are bars on this one. I wonder if the bars are intended to keep what’s inside in, or what’s outside out?”
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“Maybe I should go ask Alice before I try to go through any of them” Egret sighed at last before launching into flight.
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The End.
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Please CLICK HERE for more Great Egret Photos . (Note: I will update the Gallery with more photos soon.)
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Obligatory Great Blue Heron:
Great Blue Heron Fishes with Feather – babsjeheron
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This post is prompted by Cee Neuner and the creative and inspiring Lens Artists Tina, Amy, Patti, and Leya, all of whom encourage the community of photographers and writers. This week, the Lens Artists focus on gorgeous photos with the theme of It’s All About the Light.
There are many kinds of light – natural and artificial, incandescent, LED, Ultra-Violet, sunrise, sunset, and do you remember what Noel Coward wrote about the noon sun – “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.”
But there’s another kind of light: light-hearted. And that is what today’s Great Egret post is all about – just a silly bit of light-hearted fun.
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Thanks to Cee for her CMMC: Close Up The Great Egret is giving those three tunnels a close up inspection.
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From Patti Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 162: About the Light .
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From Tina Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 162: About the Light .
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From Amy Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 162: About the Light .
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From Leya Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 162: About the Light .
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Folks, now that some areas are opening back up, please consider supporting your local Arts communities – whether music, theater, crafts, visual arts venues, and others. All have been impacted over the past year and they need your love.
My brick & mortar presence in Massachusetts dates back to 2009 in several local venues/galleries.
2015 (May), 2016 (March and July), 2018 (May, June, July), 2019 (December), 2020 (January) several one-woman photography shows at TCAN – The Center for Arts Natick
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2018 (September, October) one-woman photography show at Natick Town Hall
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2013 thru now 2021 Five Crows Gallery in Natick
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2009 one-woman photography show at a local Audubon Sanctuary
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Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
May the Muse be with you.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2003-2021 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Great Egret, Kayaking, TCAN, Five Crows, Natick
Read the rest of this entry
Birds Just Wanna Get Cool (Not Art Nbr 27)
Great Blue Heron on Float – babsjeheron
Come on in, the water’s fine!
(File this post under pure silliness…)
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Even the Great Blue Heron and Great Egret are looking for relief on this very hot summer day.
Egret pondering paddle boat – babsjeheron
How many birds will this boat hold, anyway? I promised the whole gang a paddle boat excursion today.
Let’s see, there’s one of me, plus eight herons… Maybe we need two paddleboats!
Well, if that won’t work, we can always soak up some rays on the beach, and hey, look, the lifeguards are still on duty!
Egret just wants to have fun – babsjeheron
Guys, believe me, this is going to be a great afternoon.
Why look, there are picnic tables over there! Wanna see if they have any goodies for us?
What do you mean birds shouldn’t mooch people food?
The pigeons and seagulls do it all the time. Why not egrets and herons?
Guys? Guys?
Well, that’s the last time I agree to coordinate a meetup for you guys.
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Thanks to Cee for her CFFC: Nature Animals.
Thanks to Cee also for her CMMC: Eyes. The Great Egret is eyeing that paddleboat and beach picnic with great interest.
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This week’s Lens Artist challenge from the always inspiring and creative artists Patti, Tina, Amy, and Leya, focuses on our Wonderful World. Check out the Lens Artists’ Shade and Shadows photos here:
From Patti Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 153: Wonderful World .
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From Tina Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 153: Wonderful World .
From Amy Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 153: Wonderful World .
From Leya Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 153: Wonderful World .
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Folks, now that some areas are opening back up, please consider supporting your local Arts communities – whether music, theater, crafts, visual arts venues, and others. All have been impacted over the past year and they need your love.
My brick & mortar presence in Massachusetts dates back to 2009 in several local venues/galleries.
2015 (May), 2016 (March and July), 2018 (May, June, July), 2019 (December), 2020 (January) several one-woman photography shows at TCAN – The Center for Arts Natick
.
2018 (September, October) one-woman photography show at Natick Town Hall
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2013 thru now 2021 Five Crows Gallery in Natick
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2009 one-woman photography show at a local Audubon Sanctuary
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From December 4 through January 28, 2020, my Great Blue Heron photographs were once again on display on the walls of the lobby and theater in a free one-woman show at the Summer Street Gallery, of The Center for Arts in Natick.
Many of the photos in the exhibit were shown for the first time, and do not appear on the blog. As always, many of the photos were taken on the waterways of the Charles River watershed.
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Thanks to Erica V and WordPress for the recent WPC: Place in the World. My favorite place is where the Herons are, of course it is. And the Herons? Their place is near the water, but also on the gallery walls and my blog. How else can I share them with you?
Thanks also to Ben H and WordPress for their WPC Challenge: Liquid. The Herons are drawn to water, as am I.
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Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2003-2021 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, TCAN, Five Crows, Natick
Read the rest of this entry
Beautiful Great Egret and the MBTA
Egret flying above shimmery reflection like a puddle of moonlight – babsjeheron
Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.
— Leonardo da Vinci
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MBTA?? The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority MBTA, which runs our local commuter trains?
Nope, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act MBTA (as explained by Audubon) and the Migratory Bird Convention Act MBCA Canada
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Great Egret Channeling Isadora Duncan – babsjeheron
This is a politics-free space. You won’t hear me advancing any political agenda.
The Great Blue Herons and Egrets, on the other hand, want to remind everyone – regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof – to let your voice be heard where you can to make sure the precious birds and wildlife continue to receive the best protections from harm.
Egret ponders a winged migration alternative.
At the start of this post, I said it wasn’t about the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (which runs our local commuter trains). It looks like our Egret friend here thinks an Amtrak train might be ok for his migration?
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Thanks to Cee for her CFFC: Birds.
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Thanks to Debbie for her Six Word Saturday . This post title has the requisite six words!
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A recent Lens Artist challenge from Patti, Tina, Amy, and Leya, focuses on wild things. My post today implores us all to make sure our precious wildlife is getting the best possible protection. Without getting into politics, in the U.S., the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 has undergone several modifications over the century, and is presently under review by the Department of the Interior, with an eye to adjusting changes made by the previous administration. At question is whether ‘incidental’ harm to birds made in the course of industry or other activity is permissible. An example: is it acceptable under the law for an offshore windfarm on a migratory route to kill birds who impact the blades?
Check out the Lens Artists’ Let’s Get Wild photos here:
From Patti Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 150: Let’s Get Wild .
From Tina Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 150: Let’s Get Wild .
From Amy Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 150: Let’s Get Wild .
From Leya Lens Artists Weekly Photo Challenge 150: Let’s Get Wild .
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Folks, now that some areas are opening back up, please consider supporting your local Arts communities – whether music, theater, crafts, visual arts venues, and others. All have been impacted over the past year and they need your love.
My brick & mortar presence in Massachusetts dates back to 2009 in several local venues/galleries.
2015 (May), 2016 (March and July), 2018 (May, June, July), 2019 (December), 2020 (January) several one-woman photography shows at TCAN – The Center for Arts Natick
2018 (September, October) one-woman photography show at Natick Town Hall
2013 thru now 2021 Five Crows Gallery in Natick
2009 one-woman photography show at a local Audubon Sanctuary
From December 4 through January 28, 2020, my Great Blue Heron photographs were once again on display on the walls of the lobby and theater in a free one-woman show at the Summer Street Gallery, of The Center for Arts in Natick.
Many of the photos in the exhibit were shown for the first time, and do not appear on the blog. As always, many of the photos were taken on the waterways of the Charles River watershed.
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Thanks to Erica V and WordPress for the recent WPC: Place in the World. My favorite place is where the Herons are, of course it is. And the Herons? Their place is near the water, but also on the gallery walls and my blog. How else can I share them with you?
Thanks also to Ben H and WordPress for their WPC Challenge: Liquid. The Herons are drawn to water, as am I.
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Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2003-2021 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, TCAN, Five Crows, Natick
Read the rest of this entry
Great Blue Heron Photos of the Year
Frequent visitors here know that my photos are a mixed bag in terms of genre – some have more artistic merit than others, and some are quirky and just for fun. Some are personal anecdotes of encounters in my kayak, and some the field notes of a naturalist. One thing they all have in common, though, is they’re wild creatures observed in nature along the waterways of Eastern Massachusetts.
Coming up on the horizon in a few months is my next one-woman photography show, comprised of 35 photos. For the most part in the past, pieces I’ve included in the galleries are different than the ones I post online, selections made in a vacuum, by myself.
As a new approach for 2015, I’m reaching out to readers here for your input, for your votes on which of the 2014 posts you like the most.
So, after the photos posted here, there’s a poll where you can let me know which are your favorites.
I do hope you participate, and I’m looking forward to seeing your responses.
Wishing peace, prosperity, and creativity to all in 2015!
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Thanks to Michelle W and WordPress for the Weekly Photo Challenge: New. Soliciting the opinions of others about which photos to include in the upcoming show is a new approach for me. Like many artists and writers, I’m often surprised by what resonates with people. Looking forward to being surprised by the poll results here!
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Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2015 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
A selection of my heron and flower photos is now available at the Five Crows Gallery in Natick, MA. Drop in and see the work of the many wonderfully creative artists who show there when you’re in the area.
Five Crows is on FaceBook. To give the gallery a visit, please click here.
Great Blue Heron, Egret, Kayaking, Photography
The Closest Inspection
Nature will bear the closest inspection.
Henry David Thoreau
The Natural History Essays
View more Egret photos here.
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This week’s photo challenge is the texture of things. Thanks to Natalia and WordPress for this topic.
Thanks once again to Stewart Monckton for hosting the Wild Bird Wednesday challenge.
Thanks to the kind folks at Wordless Wednesday for the Wordless Wednesday challenge.
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A selection of my heron and flower photos is now available at the Five Crows Gallery in Natick, MA. Drop in and see the work of the many wonderfully creative artists who show there when you’re in the area.
Five Crows is on FaceBook. To give the gallery a visit, please click here.
Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2014 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Egret, Great Egret
Goes Around, Comes Around
It was
twentyten years ago today…
Great egret pauses by the round tunnel aperture.
In some unexpected and delightful alignment of the moon and the stars and the planets, both Ailsa and Sue have challenged bloggers this week with the same topic: Round.
This photo of the Egret standing near a round, corrugated metal pipe entrance, speaks for itself.
More subtle is a different sense of the word “round” – as in the way things can come around full circle. It was ten years ago today that I wrote my first great blue heron story. It is a piece that I’ve adopted as an informal “artist statement.” (If you haven’t read it before, please click here.)
And the herons? They’re a study of Patience and Grace.
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Thanks to Ailsa for her Weekly Travel Theme: Round.
Thanks to Sue Llewellyn for her Word a Week Photo Challenge: Round.
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A selection of my heron and flower photos is now available at the Five Crows Gallery in Natick, MA. Drop in and see the work of the many wonderfully creative artists who show there when you’re in the area.
Five Crows is on FaceBook. To give the gallery a visit, please click here.
Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
The Tao of Feathers™
© 2014 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Great Egret, Kayaking
Favorite Photos Posted In 2013
Ailsa has challenged us to show “birds” this week, and Alex Wild has asked about our best nature photos posted in 2013, and so I’ve combined those topics in today’s post.
Frequent visitors to this blog know that most of my photos are taken from the waters on the Charles River watershed area, and the selections presented here today were all taken from the cockpit of my floating kayak.
Some have more scientific value than others, such as the squirrel swimming or the great blue heron using a twig as a tool. Some have more artistic merit than others, such as the egret flying above shimmering waters or the great blue heron camouflaged against the rocks. Some are quirky and just for fun, such as the green heron with erect cap feathers channeling Don King.
One thing they all have in common, though, is they’re wild creatures observed in nature, in her many moods. I hope you enjoy them!
After the photos, there’s a poll where you can let me know which are your favorites. I’ve never done a poll before and so I hope you participate.
Great blue heron eye-to-eye with dragonfly.
Squirrel swimming with a duck a few days after the hurricane.
Great blue heron holding a huge plastic bag she pulled from the muck along the shore.
Great blue heron molting.
Great blue heron fledglings practice flying.
Great blue heron lands a large fish – detail.
Egret submerges her head to land a fish.
Great blue heron reacts with erect cap feathers when dive-bombed by a hawk.
Great blue heron fishing using a twig to attract the fish – sequence.
Egret flying directly at the viewer.
Green heron channeling Don King, alarmed by nearby fox, with raised cap feathers.
Egret channeling Isadora Duncan.
Egret Channeling John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever
Great blue heron in molt preening.
Great blue heron diving beneath the surface.
Great blue heron carries prize feather like a dog carries a favorite bone.
Great blue heron showing off a gorgeous wing.
Great blue heron photobombed by a duck.
Egret flying above subtle, shimmery reflection almost like a puddle of moonlight.
Dragonfly teasing great blue heron.
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Thanks to Alex Wild for the Show us your best science nature photos prompt.
Thanks to Ailsa for her Where’s My Backpack: Birds challenge.
Thanks once again to Stewart Monckton for the Wild Bird Wednesday prompt.
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Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
© 2013 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Great Blue Heron, Egret, Dragonfly, Squirrel
Jaw-Dropping Wild Egret Fishes Next To Man for 2+ Hours
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Egret flips a fish prior to swallowing it.
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Thanks to Wordless Wednesday for the Wordless Wednesday challenge.
Thanks to Cheri Lucas Rowlands and WordPress for the Weekly Photo Challenge: Grand prompt. She asked for jaw dropping, grand. The fisherman literally did a jaw-dropped double-take when joined by the egret, as did I. It was a grand experience in watching inter-species “trust” unfold.
Thanks once again to Stewart Monckton for the Wild Bird Wednesday prompt.
Thanks to Sue Llewellyn for her Word A Week Photography Challenge: Shadow challenge. The egret shadowed the fisherman for more than 2 hours that afternoon. It is not recommended to feed any wild animals, but this bird was obviously already versed in fishermen as food sources before that day.
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A selection of my heron and flower photos is now available at the Five Crows Gallery in Natick, MA. Drop in and see the work of the many wonderfully creative artists who show there when you’re in the area.
Five Crows is on FaceBook. To give the gallery a visit, please click here.
Remember: Walk softly and carry a long lens.™
The Tao of Feathers™
(These photos were taken Asugust 19, 2013.)
© 2013 Babsje. (https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com)
Egret,Fishing
Babsje Heron 