Sunday, March 13, 2011

So Great

Warm, rainy weather brought a Great blue heron to the pond.
As usual, the heron was shy. As soon as I stopped my car, the heron flew.
Like a giant gray kite it sailed along the shore line.
Long legs dangled behind, then gracefully set down on the sloping shore.




Looking like 

it is wearing

a little helmet

and tiny eye

goggles, its 

streamlined 

head sits atop 

a

long neck

stretching 

down 

until 

it meets legs -

equal in 

length,

broken only

by a mound of 

feathers, a 

lump that 

forms its 

body.

It watches.




Then 

the bird

turned,

displaying

its full

beauty -

Elegant

in form.

Its 

skinny legs -

perfectly 

set 

under 

a body 

muted

in grays

and mauve.

Feathers

sweep off 

its breast.

Then up . . .

up . . . 

until all that

gray

surrenders 

to a clear

swatch 

of yellow

beak.


Great . . . blue . . . heron.
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7 comments:

KaHolly said...

Aren't they just the most fascinating things?? I try to sneak up on them all the time, but they always know I'm there! Great shots of it in flight. There is a rookery on the little island in front of my house in Cape Breton. Last spring, during a horrendus storm, I was fortunate enough to see a huge flock battling the oncoming winds as they completed the last leg of their journey home. They weren't but 30 ft. over my head. Tears came to my eyes as I watched. You could see their exhaustion in every sweep of their wings. ~karen

Jennifer said...

Hey Nellie! You've documented some great nature sightings lately. I love it. :) Your cinnamon experience is interesting though I suppose not surprising. All remedies seem to work sometimes and not others. We are still having good luck with the cinnamon. The ants really don't like it and when I accidentally sprinkled some on an ant he went into convulsions. I felt bad. The rest I removed from the area before I put more down. I hope the peppermint works for you! Have a great weekend. Jennifer

Chris said...

Thanks Nelly for your support and message on my blog. Yours is beautiful! I love it!

floweringmama said...

Wow, you've really got some wonderful pictures there. I don't know that I've ever seen a heron except in a picture. That must've been a thrilling experience.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

A beautiful series and observations.
Have you a good weekend.

Anonymous said...

I've only seen a few of these birds, but they are so amazing - as are your photographs!
Happy Monday,
Zuzu

kathy said...

Hi Nellie, great nature photography! The storm shots are great,and the heron in flight is beautiful! Thanks for your comment on my gouache. I haven't worked with it before, like watercolor but different!