{"id":93557,"date":"2021-08-19T05:57:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T11:57:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=93557"},"modified":"2025-08-20T08:34:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T13:34:10","slug":"great-blue-heron-in-the-high-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/08\/19\/great-blue-heron-in-the-high-country\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Blue Heron In The High Country"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GreatGreat Blue Heron high in the Wasatch Mountains \u2013 Nikon D810, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

It has been a week now since I photographed this Great Blue Heron and have been able to get out into the field because of smoke, wind, fire, and rain. There was one morning last week when I could have gone into the field but decided not to go for various reasons. In hindsight I wish I had opted to go because by the next afternoon a fire would break out in the canyon<\/span><\/a> I need to use to drive up into the mountains.<\/p>\n

On my last trip up into the Wasatch Mountains I spotted this Great Blue Heron resting next to a creek. The Great Blue Herons that spend the breeding season in the high country fascinate me especially when I compare their choice of habitat to the herons that live down in the marshes and wetlands that surround the Great Salt Lake where finding prey seems it has to be easier. While I am photographing the herons in the mountains I often wonder where they go during the winter when the cold, snow, and frozen creeks would make it next to impossible for them to survive. Maybe they head to the wetlands in the lower, flatter parts of the mountains or even down into the Salt Lake Valley.<\/p>\n

What I do know with absolute certainty is that I enjoy photographing the Great Blue Herons that I find up in the Wasatch Mountains<\/span><\/a> during the spring, summer, and fall especially because I know that the mountains were named for a Shoshoni leader who was named with the Shoshoni term wasattsi, meaning “blue heron”.<\/p>\n

\"AirAir Quality Index August 19 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

I won’t be heading out into the field today because it is supposed to rain off and on until about 6 pm tonight and because the air quality sucks this morning. When I woke up this morning and checked on the air quality I wasn’t surprised to see that Salt Lake City had the worst air in the world. Yesterday it smelled like a wet campfire here because the smoke from western wildfires mingled with the rain<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

I’m hoping that as this weather front moves out later today that the air quality gets better because tomorrow is supposed to be sunny. Whether I can count on it being clear<\/em> is another story.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It has been a week now since I photographed this Great Blue Heron and have been able to get out into the field because of smoke, wind, fire, and rain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":153069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,166,1731,26,773],"tags":[4004,12128,4117,3940,3843,5301,4109,3987,627,626,4069,4501,5376,7217,2315,313,3996,5361],"class_list":["post-93557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-great-blue-herons","category-summit-county-utah","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","tag-adult","tag-air-quality","tag-ardea-herodias","tag-canyon","tag-creek","tag-fire","tag-grasses","tag-great-blue-heron","tag-heron","tag-herons","tag-mountains","tag-rain","tag-smoke","tag-stream","tag-summer-3","tag-wading-birds","tag-water","tag-wind"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-4489.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-okZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52813,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/06\/28\/are-great-blue-herons-breeding-at-higher-elevations-due-to-climate-change\/","url_meta":{"origin":93557,"position":0},"title":"Are Great Blue Herons Breeding at Higher Elevations Due to Climate Change?","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm wondering now if Great Blue Herons here in Utah might already be adapting to climate change by moving higher up into the mountain valleys and canyons that have suitable food and water supplies to breed and nest.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"High elevation Great Blue Heron, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/great-blue-heron-conifer-mia-mcpherson-0154.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/great-blue-heron-conifer-mia-mcpherson-0154.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/great-blue-heron-conifer-mia-mcpherson-0154.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/great-blue-heron-conifer-mia-mcpherson-0154.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":72255,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/07\/27\/resting-great-blue-herons-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":93557,"position":1},"title":"Resting Great Blue Herons In The Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm actually more than a touch fascinated by the Great Blue Herons I see, observe and photograph in the higher altitudes of the Wasatch Mountains.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Blue Heron resting in the mountains, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/great-blue-heron-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-6319.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/great-blue-heron-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-6319.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/great-blue-heron-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-6319.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/great-blue-heron-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-6319.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89758,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/06\/02\/great-blue-heron-and-mountain-goldenbanner\/","url_meta":{"origin":93557,"position":2},"title":"Great Blue Heron and Mountain Goldenbanner","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday I wrote about a Golden Eagle in the Wasatch Mountains. Today I am writing about \"golden\" again. Blooming Mountain Goldenbanner and a Great Blue Heron.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mountain Goldenbanner in bloom close up, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/mountain-goldenbanner-in-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2701.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/mountain-goldenbanner-in-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2701.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/mountain-goldenbanner-in-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2701.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/mountain-goldenbanner-in-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2701.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49989,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/12\/20\/great-blue-heron-in-flight-with-the-wasatch-mountains-in-the-background\/","url_meta":{"origin":93557,"position":3},"title":"Great Blue Heron in Flight With The Wasatch Mountains In The Background","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"It isn't everyday I get to see and photograph a Great Blue Heron in flight with the Wasatch Mountains in the background but I had that opportunity two afternoons ago at a pond close to home.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Blue Heron flying in front of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-mountains-flight-mia-mcpherson-8332.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-mountains-flight-mia-mcpherson-8332.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-mountains-flight-mia-mcpherson-8332.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/great-blue-heron-mountains-flight-mia-mcpherson-8332.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":119530,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/01\/05\/winter-great-blue-heron-on-thin-bear-river-ice\/","url_meta":{"origin":93557,"position":4},"title":"Winter Great Blue Heron On Thin Bear River Ice – Utah Is On Thin Ice Too","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 5, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I photographed this Great Blue Heron almost two years ago, walking gingerly on the thinning ice of the Bear River. I was on my way to the auto tour loop at the refuge when I spotted this heron.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Blue Heron falling through ice on the Bear River, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/great-blue-heron-winter-bear-river-ice-mia-mcpherson-4464.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/great-blue-heron-winter-bear-river-ice-mia-mcpherson-4464.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/great-blue-heron-winter-bear-river-ice-mia-mcpherson-4464.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/great-blue-heron-winter-bear-river-ice-mia-mcpherson-4464.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71724,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/07\/09\/great-blue-heron-standing-in-a-mountain-creek\/","url_meta":{"origin":93557,"position":5},"title":"Great Blue Heron Standing In A Mountain Creek","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When I found this Great Blue Heron standing on a rock surrounded by the fast moving waters of a mountain creek I knew I wanted photos of it.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Great Blue Heron standing on a rock in a mountain creek, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/great-blue-heron-mountain-creek-mia-mcpherson-7775.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/great-blue-heron-mountain-creek-mia-mcpherson-7775.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/great-blue-heron-mountain-creek-mia-mcpherson-7775.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/great-blue-heron-mountain-creek-mia-mcpherson-7775.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93557"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93557\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}