One Last Word…

Great Blue Herons can be vocal, very vocal. They often feel compelled to loudly announce both their arrivals and departures, and you can never miss that distinctive GBH squawk. Whether there is anyone nearby listening or not is basically irrelevant to this bird, I think he just likes to hear his own voice!

So late yesterday evening just as we were leaving the salt marsh area, I heard that familiar sound and turned just in time to see this blue heron arriving. I got these photos as he flew in low across the marsh reeds, proudly and boldly announcing his presence to any and all who may, or may not be around. He quieted down to make his touchdown landing and had a look on his face in that last photo like he was thinking to himself…”yup, nailed that one.”

49 thoughts on “One Last Word…”

roughseasinthemed on August 22, 2013 at 1:00 pm said:

What a beauty. Stunning. Er shouldn’t your text have been blue????

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 1:12 pm said:
  
  Oooo blue text (I’m smacking my forehead) great idea, I should have gone with that for sure. Ok next time.
  Glad you like the evening GBH. 🙂
  
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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  Just changed it, what do you think?
  
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  - roughseasinthemed on August 23, 2013 at 2:30 am said:
    
    Looks better than the yellow, it was yellow wasn’t it? I suppose for perfection you would need a light coloured indigo. The trouble with a black background is you need a light coloured font don’t you? I had a black background on one of my blogs but chucked it in the end, it can be striking for some photos, but it can be hard on the eye for the text, so I use Duotone for that blog now, mainly ‘cos it’s fun to see what colour background DT throws up for the photos.
    
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pixelspielerei on August 22, 2013 at 1:30 pm said:

This landing was absolutely perfect, no question! And so funny! *gg ▲

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  He did make a perfect landing and got a perfect score of 10!
  
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janmasyn on August 22, 2013 at 1:44 pm said:

Great shots and a perfect landing. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:45 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jan and yes he nailed that landing perfectly.
  
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Deb W. Trotter on August 22, 2013 at 2:42 pm said:

I saw a great blue heron this morning in the creek I walk beside every day and thought of you, Phil! Herons are around here, but I rarely see or hear them. Now I come back and find these great photos of ….. a great blue heron. What a coincidence! Thanks for the shots. You’re right about the last one – he looks like a gymnast who just stuck the perfect landing!

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:46 pm said:
  
  I’m glad you liked these Deb. The GBH is probably my favorite bird they have a lot of personality. I took a ton of spoonbill photos last night but when I took these I knew it would have to be today’s post.
  
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lylekrahn on August 22, 2013 at 3:15 pm said:

Great commentary and photos of that landing. Your story reminded me of some people …

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:47 pm said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed the photos and commentary. Yes I know a few myself…
  
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Gunta on August 22, 2013 at 3:37 pm said:

Hope you make that blue for the text a really, really light blue or we won’t be able to read it against the black background. I keep shuffling the list, but I think the GBH is currently and quite solidly at the top. I love seeing these guys, even more than the egrets.

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:51 pm said:
  
  You are right about using light blue if using blue at all. Just changed it, how does it look?
  The GBH is my favorite bird and I never get tired of watching and photographing these guys!
  
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  - Gunta on August 22, 2013 at 6:29 pm said:
    
    Looks great. One of my favorite shades! 🙂
    
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Kitt Crescendo on August 22, 2013 at 3:50 pm said:

Wow! Gorgeous in this blue/purple color. (Did I mention it’s one of my faves?)

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:51 pm said:
  
  Join the club because the GBH is my fave as well. They have a ton of personality and are always up to something. 🙂
  
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  - Kitt Crescendo on August 22, 2013 at 5:57 pm said:
    
    Of course!
    
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Steve Gingold on August 22, 2013 at 5:10 pm said:

Nailed it for sure. Landing gear down, next to last image, is pretty cool. But you really have to love the last shot with the peacock….err …Heron Strut going on. Nice low light images, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on August 22, 2013 at 5:53 pm said:
  
  Thanks Steve, and yes it was end of evening, so light was pretty much awful but I had to go with these anyway because I just like these big guys so much! he also stood around lie he was waiting for some applause after that landing.
  
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TheForagingPhotographer on August 22, 2013 at 6:37 pm said:

Loving the light blue, Phil, and the heron… although I think he’s more purple myself… 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  Thanks a lot Lucy, glad you like these! It’s funny how in the late evening light the heron did turn a bit purple, but they do have some red and maroon on them, so mix that with blue and you get purple. 🙂
  
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foxleylady on August 22, 2013 at 6:58 pm said:

I agree with Lucy, love the blue! One of my favourites! Great to be back, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  Terrific to see you again Maggie and I appreciate you looking and commenting!
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on August 22, 2013 at 9:13 pm said:

The last photo looks like a super model on the runway showing off the dress under an evening coat. Love the landing strut. Nice photos as always. I linked your osprey post so readers can see your wonderful flight photos. Have a great day, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:35 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much for your kind comments! I’m happy you enjoyed these photos and thanks also for linking the osprey post. 🙂
  
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Steve Schwartzman on August 22, 2013 at 9:27 pm said:

I’m impressed with the way you managed to get so many pictures of the heron in flight or landing.

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  I didn’t have much time to react, he came swooping in out of nowhere but I was fortunate to lock in on the heron as it came gliding in. Thanks!
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on August 22, 2013 at 11:49 pm said:

The Blue Heron photos are absolutely stunning. I love the action you captured.

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Charlie I greatly appreciate that!
  
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niasunset on August 23, 2013 at 2:44 am said:

1) Waiting for him there in silence… it is great job.
2) and taking his pictures without missing any action…
3) the colours, light, composition, etc. they are all done in perfect way…
4) heron is a beautiful bird…
5) nature world is amazing…
6) finally you are a great photographer, always your camera fascinates me.

and I admire what you did all…

Thank you dear Phil, have a nice weekend, love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:37 pm said:
  
  This is so nice of you Nia, thank you very much! I really appreciate all your very nice words!
  
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thehappyhugger on August 23, 2013 at 6:21 am said:

Awesome captures, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much for checking them out!
  
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Angelia Sims on August 23, 2013 at 9:40 am said:

I think he just entered the matrix. LOL. Very cool shots. Love his facial expressions.

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:38 pm said:
  
  I think you are right about that! These guys are very interesting and fun to watch for sure!
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on August 23, 2013 at 1:27 pm said:

Loving the photos. Beautiful bird. And fabulous text color!

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:39 pm said:
  
  He is a cool bird and more then a bit of a big mouth so he’s got that goin’ on.
  Glad you like the new heron blue!
  
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  - Cowboys and Crossbones on August 23, 2013 at 4:12 pm said:
    
    No wonder I like him!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on August 25, 2013 at 12:15 pm said:
      
      I somehow thought you might!
      
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Paula on August 23, 2013 at 2:54 pm said:

This heron looks surreal with its flashy colours and what a poser. I just love him. I will not bug you for the video this time :D, though I would like to hear it 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on August 23, 2013 at 3:40 pm said:
  
  Oh wow, now you have got me all fired up to grab some video on a GBH flying in full squawk mode. 🙂
  No time for video last night, I barely was able to react and get these still shots. 😀
  
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  - Paula on August 23, 2013 at 3:55 pm said:
    
    😀 I believe you, and they are spectacular as always 🙂
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on August 25, 2013 at 12:13 pm said:
      
      So glad you enjoyed them Paula!
      
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suburbanferndaleark on August 24, 2013 at 12:43 pm said:

What a landing! You could almost hear the “hey! watch this!” coming out of his beak.

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- Phil Lanoue on August 25, 2013 at 12:13 pm said:
  
  I think he was waiting for the applause to break out after that landing. 🙂
  
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crazytraintotinkytown on August 25, 2013 at 7:19 am said:

Every morning when I leave work, a heron flies overhead but I have never ever heard his call

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- Phil Lanoue on August 25, 2013 at 12:14 pm said:
  
  Oh dear, the ones around here feel compelled to loudly announce all activities. You hear them before you see them and if they are down in the marsh reeds you may not ever see them.
  
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adinparadise on September 17, 2013 at 4:44 pm said:

Amazing shots, Phil. Glad I didn’t miss this one. 🙂

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