Tag Archives: Great Blue Heron

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Great Blue Herons walk with a stately grace. And seeing one fly, with its slow wing beats, is a treat. Martin  and Rene Steinpress recently saw one on a bluff on The Sea Ranch while they were walking on one of the public access trails.

A Great Blue Heron on the bluff by Martin Steinpress Great Blue Heron by Martin Steinpress

Great Blue Herons eat small mammals, and they eat fish too. Here is one of my favorite photos of a GBH, just taking off from the water. This photo was taken by Paul Brewer.

And we have liftoff - a Great Blue Heron by Paul Brewer

Thanks to Martin and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is the link to his website: www.capturingnatureswonders.com

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Robert Scarola was thrilled when this beautiful Great Blue Heron landed in a tree by his home on The Sea Ranch.

Great Blue Heron watching & waiting by Robert Scarola

It stayed there for some time, as if waiting and watching. Then, all of a sudden, it lifted off, poetry in motion.

Great Blue Heron Lift off by Robert Scarola

Sometime ago Robert photographed a heron coming in for a rather hard landing. "Brakes, brakes!"

Great Blue Heron comes in for the Landing by Robert Scarola

Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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Great Blue Herons are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They hunt for a variety of food, including fish and small rodents. Rob Diefenbach recently photographed one on the hunt for a tasty rodent.

Great Blue Heron on the hunt by Rob Diefenbach

And here is a photo by Rozann Grunig of a Great Blue Heron fishing.Great Blue Heron by Rozann Grunig (Medium)

Thanks to Rob and Rozann for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

 

 

 

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I'll let Massomeh Roberts tell the story:

“I saw a large Great Blue Heron on the bluff overlooking Black Point Beach. It was moving very slowly, focused on the ground. All of a sudden its head was down into the ground, and it came up with a Vole! I had my camera ready, and snapped the shot as the bird was getting ready to take off.”

Great Blue Heron nabs a vole by Massomeh Roberts

Great Blue Herons are year round residents of the Mendonoma Coast. They are a treat to see. When they fly, their neck is an aerodynamic "S" shape. Marianne Rittenhouse photographed this.

Great Blue Heron in flight by Marianne Rittenhouse (Medium)

This "S" shape also allows them to strike at prey very quickly.

And we have liftoff - a Great Blue Heron by Paul Brewer

Here is one of my favorite Great Blue Heron photos, taken by Paul Brewer. It is titled "And we have liftoff!"

Thanks to Massomeh, Marianne, and Paul for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see much more of Paul's nature photography, here is his website: http://www.capturingnatureswonders.com/

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As I mentioned yesterday, the sandbar has once again closed the Gualala River off to the Pacific Ocean. This creates ideal kayaking conditions. Karen Tracy recently took to the water and she saw many beautiful sightings.

Kayaking in the Gualala River by Karen Tracy

It looks idyllic, doesn't it?! As Karen meandered up the river, she came across at Great Blue Heron perched on a branch.

Great Blue Heron along the Gualala River by Karen Tracy

And a Western Pond Turtle sunning itself on a log - a wonderful sighting!

Western Pond Turtle in the Gualala River by Karen Tracy

Thanks to Karen for allowing me to share her photos with you here.