Took a trip to the local pond which is actually a retention area for storm water overflow. It is a place that over the years Red Wing Blackbirds have nested. My goal was to find those lovely birds that the males are pitch black except a big red patch on their wings. The girls are a drab brown and blend into the cat tails making them harder to find.
Alas, I did not find them right away so I just hung out in the sun. Then I heard their call. It is like a lovely wind chime sound so I started circling the pond in search of my prey.
You will see a post soon about the hummingbirds I ran into as I circled but the highlight of the trip is the Blue Heron.
Here I was on the back side of the area. It is mostly tall dry grass including cat tails and other winter marsh shrubs. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted something that did not belong there. It was grey so it stuck out!
To my delight it was a Heron. I took a good look at him in my binoculars and thought who put a sculpture in the pond. No kidding here. He looked too perfect and stone still.
Let us get a little closer to determine what is going on. He is hunkered down which is not how you usually see this big legged bird.
I swear he did not even blink as I watched for several minutes. And that patch on his side looked so perfect it could not be real. I was thinking he looked like a big grey penguin.
Then after many minutes he swiveled his head listening to the sounds of the pond. He is the real deal!
At that point I heard the call of the Red Wing Blackbird again. Decided I would hustle the rest of the way around the pond to fulfill my original mission.
Back where I started on the other side of the pond, I scored a couple shots of Mr Blackbird.
He was busy calling to the girls and the above shot does not do his red wing patch justice. But I got lucky and got this next lovely shot…. Score!!
I am going to pivot back to the Heron. It was a cold but clear day with a brisk wind. My best guess is he was hunkered down to rest and stay warm. Nice sunny place in the pond rushes was a perfect place for a nap with his eyes wide open.
Leave you with a small slide show of what he looked like from the opposite side of the pond. I originally saw him over by the house in one of these pictures. It gives you a better idea of what this oasis in the middle of the city looks like. Thanx for watching!!
Crows of Arroyos 