Great Blue Heron warming up on a February morning, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahGreat Blue Heron warming up on a February morning – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

On my last trip up to Bear River MBR when I found a Great Blue Heron warming up on the bank of the Bear River I considered not taking any images of it. In the past month or so I have photographed quite a few Great Blue Herons. I kind of felt as if I have been flooding my blog with these large wading birds.

But a bird is a bird is a bird.

This Great Blue Heron was warming up in the sunlight at 8:40 am. By that time of the morning I was wishing that my feet and toes were a bit warmer too.

I liked how some of the marsh vegetation was still in the shadows and how there was a thin skim of ice on the edge of the river.

Great Blue Heron warming up on the bank of the Bear River, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahGreat Blue Heron warming up on the bank of the Bear River – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

In this photo I decided to refocus and show the heron on the left side of the frame with all of the marsh vegetation lit up nicely by the sun. I like both images of the Great Blue Heron. I think I like the first photo more because the shadows seem to add more depth to image.

Despite the temptation to not take photos of this heron I am glad that I resisted, took photos of the bird and pushed the negative thoughts straight out of my mind.

Life is good.

Mia

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