Great Blue Heron, Back Creek Marsh, Kennebunk ME

I went to Rachel Carson NWR headquarters yesterday afternoon, after the rains passed, but while there was still drama in the sky. It was lovely. The fall foliage is just about at peak, and the colors as patches of sun crossed the forest and marsh, were warm and inviting. On the way back I stopped at our local semi-private beach, and Back Creek Marsh which is behind the dunes. When I parked, there were two Great Blue Herons hunting the marsh…one on either side of the access road…one backlit and one full-lit by the low afternoon sun. I took a bunch of pictures and then a young friend walked up and we got talking. When I turned, by chance, to Heron on the sunny side of the road, it had worked its way much closer and I shot off another series of exposures. I had the camera to my eye when the Heron decided to raise its wings…and then to strike this pose. I am not sure what it was doing. It would be impossible to strike from this position, and the wings are not shading the water for better vision through the surface, as they would be if this were a Reddish Egret umbrella fishing for instance. The Heron held the pose for several seconds and then relaxed. Who knows?

Nikon P610 at 1440mm equivalent field of view. 1/400th @ ISO 100 @ f6.5. Processed and cropped slightly for composition in Lightroom.