After a great session photographing young Barred Owls at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, I also took some Great Blue Heron photos in a slough nearby.
Great Blue Heron in Bog Smartweed – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, -0.7 V, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This Great Blue Heron was foraging for prey in a slough, as I mentioned, and is surrounded by Bog Smartweed.
Bog Smartweed, Persicaria setacea, is commonly found in wet habitats, such as bogs, swamps, and other wetland areas, which is reflected in its common name “bog smartweed”.
I selected the image above because the smartweed was crossing in front of the bill and neck of this heron and it shows how tiny and delicate the flowers are.
Great Blue Heron foraging in Bog Smartweed – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, -0.7 V, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I didn’t see this Great Blue capture anything to eat while I had the heron in my viewfinder but it was fun watching it move through the smartweed.
Great Blue Herons are excellent hunters even when the vegetation is as thick as this Bog Smartweed is at this spot on the refuge. I hope to get closer images of this native plant one day soon.
It was a very busy morning at the refuge. Click to read Steve’s account about our 4th of July morning spent at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
Any day with a GBH is going to be a good day! 🙂
Gorgeous images. Thank you.
Simply beautiful!