“It Wasn’t Me, It Was That Other Bird”

Yesterday we spotted this great blue heron standing in a tree doing what I have often seen described as a “flasher” pose. You can draw your own conclusions regarding how it got that name, but from most of the research I have done, this posture is likely part of the heron’s ability to thermo regulate it’s body temperature. The wing out position can allow for better air flow when the bird is hot, or collect heat (as it appears to be doing here) to warm itself up in the sun after a cool evening.

However… could I have possibly caught it in an embarrassing situation? Soon after it was done flashing, the great blue flew across the marsh then ducked down low behind some reeds in hopes of remaining out of sight. It almost worked too, until I managed to steal a momentary glimpse of him when he briefly poked his up for a quick look around. 🙂

50 thoughts on ““It Wasn’t Me, It Was That Other Bird””

Hope on October 30, 2013 at 1:08 pm said:

That is FUNNY!!! 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:42 pm said:
  
  Those herons can be goofy at times! 😀
  
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acuriousgal on October 30, 2013 at 1:26 pm said:

Shame on him!!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  I’m guessing he is not feeling as much shame as we suspect. 🙂
  
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niasunset on October 30, 2013 at 1:45 pm said:

WOW! Once again! What is he doing in the first photograph, I haven’t seen something like that before…. This is amazing, amazing. Thank you dear Phil, love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  I think he is warming himself in the sun Nia! Thanks for looking at these photos.
  
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janmasyn on October 30, 2013 at 2:15 pm said:

Great shots Phil, the second one is beautiful.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jan, I appreciate it.
  
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pixelspielerei on October 30, 2013 at 2:16 pm said:

Sometimes I wonder what those animals imagine in what they do!

That’s really funny! 😛

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  I imagine that all the time, that’s why I have to talk for them. I do the best I can at making it up. 😀
  
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Gracie on October 30, 2013 at 2:23 pm said:

Wonderful shots, Phil! Love them.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  I appreciate that Gracie, thanks!
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on October 30, 2013 at 2:59 pm said:

This heron is a flasher! Nice job capturing fascinating shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:45 pm said:
  
  He could be a naughty boy. He could also not care a bit. 😀
  
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juditon on October 30, 2013 at 3:29 pm said:

Tank you for the photo that are always great and the explanation.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:45 pm said:
  
  I am happy you enjoyed them, thank you.
  
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Gunta on October 30, 2013 at 4:08 pm said:

Just ain’t no privacy when you’re around! 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:46 pm said:
  
  I do have a tendency to be a bit intrusive at times. 🙂
  
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Patrizia M. on October 30, 2013 at 4:16 pm said:

Fantastiche, la prima foto è veramente eccezionale. Sembra proprio che si sia messo in posa!!!
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:51 pm said:
  
  Si tratta di una posa divertente. 😀 Grazie Pat
  
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The Dancing Rider on October 30, 2013 at 4:19 pm said:

That posture in the first photo is almost prehistoric – pterodactyl-like. Lovely detail in the second! And amazing in the last – talk about fitting in. He even looks a little sly there. 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:48 pm said:
  
  He does have a bit of a look in that last photo doesn’t he?! The GBH is my favorite bird and they are almost always up to something. They also have a lot of trouble keeping their yaps shut, constantly squawking about something. Or nothing. 😉
  
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adrikaswaminathan on October 30, 2013 at 4:27 pm said:

fascinating :)!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:48 pm said:
  
  Thank you for looking and commenting!
  
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Sheila on October 30, 2013 at 4:54 pm said:

I have seen one taking that pose. Amazing!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:
  
  I have seen them do this before as well but not very often. I guess they have to be in the mood.
  
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foxleylady on October 30, 2013 at 5:18 pm said:

Cormorants stand like this, to dry their wings. Perhaps this is the same thing, Phil. Terrific pictures, I love the last one of him peeping bashfully through the reeds!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 5:50 pm said:
  
  Yes Maggie, cormorants and anhingas hold their wings up to dry, but not a great blue heron. Those birds are water birds and fish under water, the GBH is a wader and the only thing he gets wet is his feet. 🙂
  
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  - foxleylady on November 1, 2013 at 6:07 am said:
    
    Just read that some birds do this to get rid of parasites.
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2013 at 12:26 pm said:
      
      That’s possible Maggie, I have read similar speculation. It could be true too since I don’t ever see these birds bathe in the traditional manner of splashing themselves all over with water, which is how birds often remove pests.
      
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Tanja on October 30, 2013 at 6:29 pm said:

Hi Phil,
that first blue heron bird looks like a wizard hat. Thats funny!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 7:58 pm said:
  
  Good observation about the wizard hat, I like that!
  Thanks so much for looking and commenting!
  
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Mary Strong-Spaid on October 30, 2013 at 8:00 pm said:

I am wondering how the heron got its wings to bend in that direction to catch the sunlight.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 8:16 pm said:
  
  The prevailing theory is that the heron has been practicing yoga for over a year now and it getting quite limber. 😉
  Seriously though, I have seen them get in this position a few times and I don’t know how they do it but they do.
  
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  - Mary Strong-Spaid on October 30, 2013 at 8:22 pm said:
    
    It really is quite an amazing posture!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2013 at 8:43 pm said:
      
      He looks a little like he is doing a satellite dish impersonation.
      
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Lee Wilkerson on October 30, 2013 at 8:58 pm said:

I’ve never seen that first pose before, but what a funny story. In the third photo I can just imagine the heron thinking: “Rats! He’s still out there watching me!”

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2013 at 12:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking these out Lee and I agree about that last shot, he does not look very pleased to have been spotted out there. 🙂
  I love watching these big guys!
  
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Lyle Krahn on October 30, 2013 at 9:41 pm said:

That’s hilarious. I’ve never seen anything like it. Great story too.

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2013 at 12:23 pm said:
  
  Another reason why the GBH is my favorite bird (except when the spoonbills are around, but don’t tell him) they rarely fail to bring the action and comedy.
  
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Sue on October 31, 2013 at 10:53 am said:

I’ve never seen them in this pose, but I wonder if they are exposing the under side of the wing to a little heat and UV radiation in order to kill a few of the feather kites there.

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2013 at 12:25 pm said:
  
  That’s possible Sue, I have read similar speculation. It could be true too since I don’t ever see these birds bathe in the traditional manner of splashing themselves all over with water.
  
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Deb W. Trotter on October 31, 2013 at 3:38 pm said:

They do love to hide in the reeds! Great photos. I’m not sure whether it’s okay to laugh at the pose in the first one?!? The bird just looks so silly. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2013 at 12:26 pm said:
  
  The GBH never fails to bring the action and bring the funny Deb! I love watching these big guys!
  
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Paula on October 31, 2013 at 4:19 pm said:

Once again you have left me breathless 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2013 at 12:27 pm said:
  
  Well I greatly appreciate you checking these photos out Paula and glad you enjoyed them!
  
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adinparadise on November 1, 2013 at 8:33 am said:

Geez, those paparazzi have nothing on you, Phil! 😀 great captures again, and thanks for showing me something I’ve never seen before. Love that last pic of him hiding from your lens. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on November 1, 2013 at 12:29 pm said:
  
  I have seen GBHs do this previously Sylvia, but not often. Plus I think maybe this is the first time I saw one standing in a tree holding that pose.
  He tried to hide, but I spotted the big sneak. 😀
  
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Chillbrook on November 1, 2013 at 5:13 pm said:

🙂

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TheForagingPhotographer on November 3, 2013 at 2:55 pm said:

Phil you missed a word out there…”he briefly poked his up for a quick look around”… I must say I did wonder what on earth I was going to see in the pictures… 😀 Great pictures as always.

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