Great Blue Heron

Great blue heron gliding across a frozen, snow-covered Wilde Lake on February 3, 2019. I was shooting ring-necked ducks for over an hour with not much sign of many other birds. There were some geese initially, a brown creeper and a few miscellaneous songbirds. This small inlet where I spent most of the time was one of the few unfrozen sections of the lake.

While I was waiting for a particular duck action shot, a great blue had flown in around me and landed on the ice nearby. A second great blue heron had opted to fly in the same spot, causing great blue heron #1 to flee its spot. Great blue heron #2 mistimed its landing, causing it to wipe out on the ice. After regaining its balance, it gave chase to great blue heron #1. Being the hopeful photographer, I headed to the small covered pier a 10-second walk away and hoped one would fly back. I was rewarded with a burst of shots of one of the great blues coming back across the lake perhaps a minute later, making for some great flying shots with a shadow on the snow.

Lens - Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD @ 400mm on Nikon D500