Little Blue Heron in a tidal lagoon – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 160, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
While I was away late last month a Little Blue Heron was spotted by Norm Jenson and his wife Gail at Glover Pond near where I live. The Little Blue caused quite a stir because the wading bird was well out of its normal range but by the time I came back the heron wasn’t being spotted any more. I had hoped to photograph one here in Utah because I enjoyed photographing them so much while I lived in Florida.
I looked through my images and found this frame of a Little Blue foraging in a tidal lagoon late in the evening at Fort De Soto’s north beach on December 1, 2008. I remember how cold the water was that night, how I shivered sitting waist deep in the lagoon and how silly I felt because I had left my change of dry clothes at home and had to drive 45 minutes in stinky, sandy, and very wet clothes to get there. I missed the Little Blue Heron in Utah but I have fond memories of the day I photographed this one as the sun began to set over the Gulf of Mexico.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Little Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
Thank you for your dedication/obsession. I am so very grateful that you sat in icy, stinkiness to bring us this image.
How exciting to see a bird out of its normal range. I read (Kaufman Field Guide) this medium-sized heron is very similar in size and shape to Snowy Egret, which I have seen.
What a little sweetheart … have to tell you, I don’t think I’ve ever sat in smelly, salty icy water for a shot … and not sure I ever will … hats off to you, girl!!!!!!!!
The colors in the water really make a great BG for the Little Blue. They are beautiful birds and I enjoy watching them too.