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Ardea Herodias

Great Blue Heron, September 2006

A close encounter of the bird kind. I had spotted a mysterious heron a few days earlier, so I went back with my camera. I didn't see my mystery bird, but a Great Blue Heron came up out of the water to get a better look at me.
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you should see an image here These aren't potatoes - they're mushrooms.
you should see an image here First sighting of the great blue heron.
you should see an image here He heard my shutter, but surprisingly moved toward me.
you should see an image here The heron had a plan:
you should see an image here to scramble up the grassy bank,
you should see an image here and run away.
you should see an image here Continuing on my way, I paused to photograph a cormorant in the sun.
you should see an image here And a couple of turtles - see both?
you should see an image here This one was only about two inches long - I couldn't get a better shot despite much effort.
you should see an image here Suddenly I looked up from the turtles, and saw the same heron again!
you should see an image here It was hard to get a clear shot through the trees.
you should see an image here That's better, but now I'm shooting into the light.
you should see an image here The heron seems to have spotted me.
you should see an image here This time he doesn't seem to mind my presence. He even seems to be posing.
you should see an image here Now the heron's ignoring me, and chasing after some fish.
you should see an image here It would plunge its head into the water too quickly for me to react.
you should see an image here Here you can see the splash where the heron's head has been.
you should see an image here And here you can see light shining through the heron's expanded throat pouch.
you should see an image here A regal pose.
you should see an image here Suddenly he turns toward me...
you should see an image here and walks right up beside me.
you should see an image here Then he calmly returns toward the water.
you should see an image here He stops near the edge to pose.
you should see an image here Is this my good side?
you should see an image here Wait, let me lift my chin a little.
you should see an image here I snapped this bumblebee on my way home.
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