Winter Great Blue Heron in flight – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I’m keeping it simple today and sharing a single photo of a winter Great Blue Heron in flight over the marsh at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I took this photo last February when I was leaving the auto tour route to head home. It hadn’t been an especially birdy day out on the marshes. Seeing this heron and a few others brightened up my morning.
Great Blue Herons are year round residents in the marshes at the refuge. They cope well with the cold, snow, ice, and winds that are typical during winter on the refuge. When the marshes freezes over they either start hunting for small mammals or they find the few areas of the marshes that are ice free except on the coldest days.
I didn’t see this Great Blue Heron hidden in the vegetation until it took off. I locked onto it and I was able to take a few photos of it in flight. I like how the wispy phrags anchor this image, the distant snow-topped Wasatch Mountains and the nice view of the heron’s eye.
I adore these large wading birds any time of the year yet during the winter I often think of just how tough these herons are. I also think about how they adapt to the seasonal changes and to the changes we humans have forced on them by altering their habitat.
Great Blue Herons endure, survive, and thrive even during our coldest winters and hottest summers here in northern Utah.
Life is good.
Mia
To view more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species click here.
What intrigues me most about this wonderful shot are the graceful curving lines of the heron in flight. Beautiful. Thanks Mia.
I enjoyed seeing this beautiful bird flying out of the marsh. Thanks.
Your superb photograph drives home how adaptable and resilient is the Great Blue Heron. Of course, here in central Florida they are a fixture. It is all to easy to take them for granted as photographic subjects.
The big bird in flight within than wintry composition is stunning!
Hope all is well with you.
Gorgeous. Thank you.
What a lovely photo, Mia. The Great Blue Heron is a lifelong favorite of mine, so often seeing them along the creeks and in the lakes and ponds. Now, our home is up on a ridge and i don’t see them very often, but when i do i’m smiling and happy. Thanks so much.
I’m glad you reminded me that was a mountain… down here in the flatlands of coastal Texas, our assumption for fuzzy blue backgrounds is storm front. And you taught me about “phrags” – I hadn’t heard the term before. Great BIF (bird in flight) shot!