Heron Bridge

Last week, as I walking around Howell Farm with my camera, I spotted a green heron perched on the wooden bridge that overlooks the farm’s pond. I didn’t have my zoom lens, but I stalked as close as I could and snapped a photo. Then the heron flew off to hide in a nearby tree.

This morning, as I was walking around Howell Farm, I spotted a great blue heron perched on the same wooden bridge that overlooks the farm’s pond. I didn’t have my zoom lens, but I stalked as close as I could and snapped a photo. Then the heron flew off, looking like a pterodactyl, across the farm fields.

This bridge must be well suited for heron perching.

Having observed great blue herons before, I get the impression that they’re very cautious birds. They leave at the first sign of humans. The green herons seem slightly more laid back.

I learned something about great blue herons in a book I’ve been reading. Although they are solitary fish hunters, they nest in giant colonies of other herons, often in a tree, with up to 500 nests in a colony. I’ve yet to discover a heron colony in the woods, and I read that this is probably a good thing, because the herons would rather you stay away.