Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Great Blue Heron of The Vermilon River-World Bird Wednesday Post.


Note His Head Plumes 

Again the head plume



When they go to lift off, its breathtaking. 
 With all of the wetlands I've shown you as we ramble through the Vermilon River district you had to guess that it is home, at least in a breeding way, in the summer to these guys. These incredible birds hunt these wetlands for frogs and fish to their hearts' content. If not common they are easy to find, although not in the colonies that the bird guides say, here at least. Maybe mine are anti-social. It was impossible to get their photos until I got the new sigma 150-500mm lens, as they were always on the other side of the wetland, some the size of small lakes.Remember this is a wilderness forest the birds or animals are not habituated, and that also accounts for the difficulty. They're ( all birds and animals) not used to people and they fear predators.

27 comments:

  1. The wild has a whole different set of expectations than heavily populated areas, that is so true. The difference in behaviour between golf course Geese and wild Geese is apparent. Swans can become the neighborhood bully! Some animals can play the game both ways, others can not.
    In Detroit, along with the expected populations of Pigeons, Starlings, and Sparrows, there is a growing population of Ring Necked Pheasants!
    Your Herons are spectacular, Many Thanks to your Bigma 500mm! ;-)WBW

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  2. I think its hard for any urban person, having been born one, to realize the magnitude of the forest, in terms of flora, and fauna, that exists in an environment in which I live, virtually in the centre of a regenerating forest, that is undergoing its own change and starting to lean away from boreal and more towards a true mixed forest complete with oak and maple hardwoods as well as birch and aspen softwoods. There are deer here now which is incredible, alth'o I haven't got photos of them.The area I live in is on the rim of Sudbury basin, the valley of death, that uncontrolled mining, forestry, and the RR virtually ruined physically and sociologically.There are at least some of us, certainly not the polticians or beaurcrats that do not worship the fast declining gas engine and promote clean-up.Enough of the rant. Boom & Gary.

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  3. I know the difficulty, we have blue heron visit our dams but they are so shy that mostly they have heard you coming before you have spotted them and always on the other side of the dam.

    Nice captures, half hidden in the reeds gives the feeling of being in the wild.

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  4. The Great Blue Heron as call it, looks quite happy with her/his environment. Good pictures.

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  5. To Areija: They're illusive alright, bur they're beauties. Thanks for the visit. Boom & Gary.

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  6. To Bob: He's made for that wetland. If you or I stepped in we'd sink like a stone in the muck, and have a difficult time getting out. Thanks for the visit.

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  7. Not easy to get close to at all. Another great set.

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  8. Great photos of a beautiful bird. Your wetlands sound wonderful!

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  9. We have these herons on our creek behind the house, and I know all too well how difficult they can be to photograph. Exellant shots.
    B.

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  10. To Julian: Thanks again. Boom & Gary.

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  11. To Mick: I took readers on a tour of the wetlands earlier. If you have time go to the archives and see them. Thanks for the visit and your comments. Gary & Boom.

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  12. Becky & Gary: Thanks for the visit and your comments. Boom & Gary.

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  13. Great Blues are one of my favorite birds. They are so majestic one moment, but can also look like overzealous bureaucrats the next. You got some nice pics, Gary!

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  14. Hi Hilke: Just to continue the thought; Moose and Great Blues look like something a committe designed. Yet they're extremely well adapted to their environment. Thanks for the visit.

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  15. Hi Garry. Not the easiest species to get close to ... you did well with that BIG lens. FAB.

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  16. Great Blue Heron is one of my favorite birds. They are gorgeous!

    WingsSpirit

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  17. Yes they are a beautiful bird--gracious one moment but very prehistoric in flight. I posted one also. They are very plentiful out here and several rookeries close by. MB

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  18. I clicked on your photos to enlarge and get a better look. You got some great shots! Yep....these birds are huge and amazing to see in flight.

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  19. To Early Birder: Thanks for the visit,and the compliments. They are hard to get close to.

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  20. Hi Jean: I think what is amazing is how graceful these guys are. Thanks for the visit. Boom & Gary.

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  21. To SMS: Prehistoric yes, but so well adapted. Thanks for the visit. Boom & Gary.

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  22. To Linda: Thanks for the kind words. Mostly the bird and the lens just co-operate and it turns out fine, if not its a diaster. Boom & Gary.

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  23. To The Early Birder: Luck & the right lens make for a good photo a lot of times. Thanks for the visit. Boom & Gary.

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  24. Great shots Gary.
    Their cousins over here, are just as wary. They spot me a mile away lol

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  25. Thanks Keith. I left a message on your site about the weasel in your slideshow. Great show. Thanks for the compliments. Boom & Gary.

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  26. Always enjoy seeing herons -- some nice captures of them in their element with the emergent vegetation!

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  27. Thanks for the great reviews, Pat Boom & Gary.

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