Green Heron

Sticking its neck out

Green heron perched on a branch

Looking for breakfast

Heron Silhouettes

Heron silhouettes

Little Green and big Great Blue

On their morning perch

Green Heron on the Lookout

Perched along the shore

Green Heron on the lookout

My, what a big bill!

Green Heron with Crest

Green heron with crest

Walking along the tree branch

By the waterside

Green Heron observers

Two paired together,

viewing the pond from their perch,

gazing high and low.

Green Herons

A pair of green herons perched high in a tree by the pond at Bassett Creek Park yesterday morning.  They were actively flying around, finding tree perches on which to land.  I was able to spot them thanks to their distinctive call/squawk.

Green Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron looking out

Much to my surprise I got up close to a Green Heron yesterday afternoon on a visit to Bassett Creek Park. I often see these herons, but in the past they typically fly away well before I get near.  This heron was quite focused on fishing near a culvert, and didn't seem too bothered by my presence.

I observed the heron for perhaps a half of an hour.  It wondered up and down a partially submerged log, straining to see fish/minnows in the shallow waters below.  It had no luck while I was watching, and finally flew of for presumably better fishing grounds.

Green Heron walking the log

This experience reminded me of how photography is a lot like fishing.  One sometimes looks and looks and looks, often quite diligently, and is sometimes rewarded, other times not.  But whether or not one gets a fish or photo, it can still be a joy to practice the art, and hone ones skills.

PS  Those are white duck feathers in the water that gather near the pond's outlet.