Great Blue Heron at Farmington Bay WMAGreat Blue Heron at Farmington Bay WMA

Great Blue Herons are year round residents at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area here in northern Utah which means they deal with bitter cold, snow covered ground and icy water. Yesterday this Great Blue Heron was hunting for prey in some fairly cold water, the lowest temp I saw was 24 degrees and ice was forming on the impoundments.

Great Blue Heron lifting off from icy waterGreat Blue Heron lifting off from icy water

The Great Blue Herons here have to be sturdy to survive the winters of Utah. This image shows some of the ice in the lower left corner just as the Great Blue Heron started to lift off to fly towards the phragmites in the marsh.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.