Great Blue Herons are one of my favorite things to photograph. They’re stoic, graceful, and beautiful. They stand still for what feels like forever, then strike in the blink of an eye at their target. Herons aren’t picky eaters, and while their go to is fish, they will also eat frogs, mice, snakes and insects.
Great Blue Heron catching fish
Great Blue Herons are typically a solitary bird, they hunt alone and typically keep their distance from others. That being said, it’s been a little unusual at a local pond lately, to see anywhere from 5-12 herons in the same space looking for fish. If theres plenty of fish and space to go around, they seem to be willing to tolerate each other somewhat. It’s made for some really great photo opportunity so I can’t complain!
Great Blue Herons
The name great blue heron suggests they would be a bold, bright blue, but in reality their coloring is more subtle and layered. Up close, you might notice shades of slate-gray and steel-blue, with warm rust tones on their thighs and white on the face and neck. It’s an elegant mix of cool and warm tones that somehow makes them stand out and blend into their surroundings at the same time. I have 2 photos in particular that I think really show the varying shades these birds can have. The bird on the left is displaying very muted, gray coloring, while the bird on the right is displaying much more vibrant blues.
Great Blue Herons
Great Blue Herons
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Herons aren’t rare, and they aren’t the most exciting to watch sometimes, but I’m always going to stop and photograph them whenever I can. Whether they’re standing around like they’ve got all the time in the world or gliding off across the water, they’re a perfect little reminder to slow down, stay still, and just observe for a moment.
Great Blue Heron
If you’ve ever crossed paths with a great blue heron, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. And if you enjoy nature moments like this, feel free to subscribe if you haven’t already, and stick around for more.
