On my last journey up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I stopped to take photos of a majestic Great Blue Heron enjoying some solitude on the ice. I am glad that I stopped.
Great Blue Heron on the edge of ice – Nikon D500, f9, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Before long winter will give way to the warmer, longer days of spring in the marshes. I won’t have many more opportunities to see herons on ice this winter. Because of that fact, I need to make time to take photos of them now.
The solitary Great Blue Heron seemed to be enjoying the warming rays of the winter sun when I found it. It was sheltered from the light breeze on the west side of the auto tour route at the refuge. A curtain of thick phrags behind the heron may have reflected the warmth of the sun.
Since I didn’t feel the cold with the sun shining on me the heron may have felt the same way. That is hard to say for sure because I don’t have feathers.
Great Blue Heron on the edge of ice – wide angle view – Nikon D810, f8, 1/3200, ISO 400, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 50mm, natural light
After I photographed the Great Blue Heron with my bird gear I picked up my Nikon D810 with my 18-200mm lens attached. I set the lens at 50mm which is about the focal length we see with our eyes. I took some photos to show approximately what I was seeing with my naked eyes. The large heron looks tiny compared to the expanse of ice it was standing on.
I should do that more often!
When I finished photographing the heron I started to head towards home happier for having spent the bright, winter morning on the refuge.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
The wide angle is wonderful! Solitary bird, Very Cold habitat, surviving….
Never will tire of seeing a GBH, nor of seeing snow that sparkles.
i’m always a fan of a great blue heron photo, and snow covered mountains!