A visitor in our backyard, of late, is this very wary crane (HERON>>>Thanks for the correction Two Rod!!!) We have a small spring fed rivulet running through the back yard…a wildland area of sorts. The crane (Heron) sits perched over the water looking for the very few small fish that barely survive in this water. I have only seen three very little fish in this water over the years.
This morning, I peered out the kitchen window and saw the crane (Heron). Often we have coyotes moving through the yard, so I am vigilant for them. But, the crane (Heron) just started visiting. Try as I might, this bird was very aware of my attempt to sneak out the back door and capture a shot. I got one chance and this was the result before the gangly bird took flight. A bit blurry but fun to try!
SwittersB & Exploring 
A beautiful but elusive Great Blue Heron, as we call them in Upstate New York. I have one that considers our neighbor’s pond his territory, and I have been trying to get photos of him all summer and fall. Now it is winter and he has abandoned the pond. I did manage to get one grainy, blurry photo of him this fall, but I’m hoping he’ll be back and not so camera shy in 2013.
Awesome photos, BTW!
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Thank you. I had a second chance the other morning and captured a ‘good’ dozen shots…all fuzzy! Haven’t seen the bird since.
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nice shot.
i spent most of the summer with a breeding pair at one of the ponds i fished this summer.
they are adverse to community,
yet after three months we often fished within ten or fifteen yards of each other.
did you know that they roost in the tops of trees?
or that they make less noise than an owl when they swoop over you?
i’ve watched some fairly large fish swim up to a stillhunting heron just for the pleasure of being impaled by the consumate predator.
amazing animals!
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Very interesting. I noticed the two times they lifted off that for their size they did make zero noise flying up through dense Alders and Cottonwoods. I will have to start looking up….the only times I have ever seen them is at the water’s edge. Thanks for comment.
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Are you sure it is not a heron?
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Actually you are right…a blue heron. Where did I get Crane from??? Thanks!
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You have the nicest neighbors!!
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