Great Blue Herons are the largest birds belonging to the Heron family in North America. They are beautiful birds with long, rounded wings, very long necks and extraordinarily long legs. At full height Great Blue Herons reach over 3 feet and have a wingspan of over 70 inches. These birds have long yellowish bills tapering to a point at the end. Great Blue Herons have gray upper bodies. Their necks are streaked with white, black and brown. Males are larger than females and have a puffy plume of feathers behind their heads. The Great Blue Heron is unlikely to be confused with other wading birds. These stately birds have a slow, methodical pace. The Great Blue Heron is considered one of the most recognizable of American birds. It is the most widely distributed and most commonly sighted among American Herons. It flies with slow, graceful strokes of its powerful broad wings. The most common sight is when the Great Blue Heron stands in a motionless, somewhat dignified position in the shallow waters of a stream, bog or marsh.
Fabulous details captured here my dear Alison and a most interesting 'about'. The tones are so natural and the bird is roosting quite happily up in the tree but that beady eye is fully aware of your activity. Well done to you sweetie. A big HUUUG and my very best wishes to you as always.....Ray
This is a great capture of a very timid bird. Here in eastern ontario we see them all summer, but I have not been able to get close enough to get a really good photograph. There is a spot close by where they nest, it is a beaver flood and there are a couple of dozen nests at the top of the dead trees in the pond. It is a wonderful sight when they are breeding.
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{K:250401} 2/13/2009
