Steve Creek, a fellow nature and wildlife photographer from Arkansas, is running a series of posts on his blog (Steve Creek Outdoors) about why the Great Blue Heron is his favorite bird to photograph. He is up to part 4 today! I am enjoying the posts, since basically, I have the same relationship with Great Blues.

This Great Blue is at Merritt Island National Wildlife Drive, and seems to have inhabited the pond by the rest stop on Blackpoint Wildlife Drive this year. It was there every time I stopped by over the course of the week I was in Florida. I like this view, both because of its unusual closeness, and because of the effect of the dappled light under the mangrove. The ripples in the water, providing an attractive ground for the image are just a bonus. And yes, he does appear to be eating a seed of some sort? And finally, check out those breeding plumes on the back of this bird’s head!

Canon SX50HS. Program with iContrast and Auto Shadow Fill (which just managed to hold detail in both highlight and shadow in this challenging light). –1/3EV exposure compensation. 924mm equivalent field of view. f5.6 @ 1/1000th @ ISO 640.

Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.