Great Blue Heron on an icy pond – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1600, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
We have had some wacky weather in northern Utah the past week but that is what late winter is like here. One day can feel like spring is just around the corner because of warm temps and sunshine and the next day there might be falling snow. That can even happen within the same 24 hour period. Or even less than 12 hours.
Wacky weather – End of February and beginning of March 2020
What that means for me as a bird photographer is that one day a pond might be covered with ice and a day or so later the water can be partially or completely open.
We just had two days where the temps were in the 60’s which is quite warm here for this time of the year and today snow is supposed to fall. The ground is warm so the snow probably won’t stick, for long anyway.
Last week I was able to photograph a Great Blue Heron standing on an icy pond at Farmington Bay WMA. The large heron flew in while I was photographing an immature Black-crowned Night Heron in the vegetation at the edge of the pond.
This may have been my last chance this winter to photograph a Great Blue Heron on ice so I am glad I took photos of it as it landed and cautiously walked around on the ice.
The Great Blue Herons are already working on building and rebuilding their nests at the rookery at Farmington Bay and I suppose it won’t be long before they lay their eggs and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the herons have already laid them.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
We had summer (upper 80s/low 90s) this week and are back to winter next week — complete with cold rain in the forecast. Hope this handsome GBH has a reproductively successful spring! 🙂
We have the same weather here, with all four seasons in one week. The heron looks like it has “careful” feet.
Utah is fickle when it comes to weather. Yesterday I was in the sun in 60 degrees and today I had to move 4 inches of snow away from the door of mew to feed the birds.
I think the weather the world over is whacky at the moment.
And how I wish I could see Great Blue Herons.
Or ice.
Nice