After powering through all that snow without a sight of any wildlife other than small birds, I headed back towards where my van was parked. Crossing the dam, I looked down the river to my left and saw what appeared to be large grey spot quite a distance away in the snow by the water. But I wondered whether it might be a heron, as I’d seen one some weeks earlier.
Taking out my camera with the telephoto, I focused. Yes! It was a heron, hunched over, balancing on one leg while looking cold despite his nice and puffy down coat. I guess he must have been ice fishing. It was the view that made me morning complete.
(Anyone else having issues with WP formatting some of the words differently in the final post, even though they don’t show up that way in the original? I didn’t change “nice and puffy down coat” above, but there it is.)
This, that and the other thing 
Great shot. I did think that you’d been ice fishing, but no, it was the hungry heron!
I don’t think ice fishing is really my thing, but it’s definitely his. 🙂 Have a great day, Emma.
janet
I would have been impressed if it was, Janet!
I bet your heart soared when you came upon this scene. Wonderful.
It did, Tish, although it’s a good thing I had the telephoto or I wouldn’t even have been sure it was a heron. He wasn’t moving at all and my phone would only have caught that grey blob.
janet
I consider it a rare treat when I get to see a heron at the park on the way to work. I can see how this made your walk totally worth the effort.
We have quite a few heron and egrets in the park, but this time of year, I’ve only seen a heron (or some herons–who knows if it’s the same one or different ones.) There are usually quite a few ducks and geese as well, but they weren’t out.
janet
Hardy fellow.
That’s for sure, Sherry. Glad you stopped by. I hope all’s well in the Big Apple.
janet
Beautiful Janet! We don’t have any herons here now but tons of ducks!
I’m amazed that the herons stay around all winter. I haven’t seen any egrets, so either they go somewhere else or they’re just not out or they’re hiding in plain sight on a pile of snow. 🙂
Yes that is amazing! I think on average you can be about 10 degrees warmer most days than us.
The Heron fits into the color palette quite nicely, Janet. A nice way to end your day.
Ω
That “color” is as I saw it and he did fit right in. It was a great way to end the walk.
An ungainly yet elegant bird – the heron. It flies above the streets around our village – on colourful banners. All year long they stalk the fields and dykes patiently waiting for dinner. They perch a single leg on top of fence posts and occasionally on low growing trees. They are a lesson in patience. Being utterly still. Completely focused. Your photograph has an exquisite Zen quality – reminiscent of an ancient Asian painting. Thank you for sharing this beauty.
Thanks for adding your beautiful words, Virginia. I’m happy you enjoyed the photo and I can see the Asian painting idea.
janet
What a lovely sight to see on the bank of the river! It always warms my soul when birds and wildlife are about. I don’t feel alone on the trail.
Did you know since they don’t have feathers on their legs to keep them warm they and other like birds will tuck up one leg to warm it up then switch legs?
It’s something I myself learned this winter. 🙂
I didn’t know that about their legs, Deborah. That’s fascinating. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
janet
Kinda like us sitting on or tucking our hands under our legs or arms to keep them warm, to maintain homeostasis. 🙂
Makes sense. My hands don’t have feathers on them, either. 🙂
🙂
Astounding!
Thanks very much, Carol.
janet
They’re such beauties, and your timing was just right.
I always look for them when I’m around the river. During the warmer months, there’s a dead tree that’s a gathering spot for various fishing birds, usually one species at a time. So much fun!
janet
Ha, I too thought it might have been you doing the fishing but I wondered about that. Good shot and glad you saw something larger than a chickadee on your walk 🙂
No clue about the WP thing, unless you copied and pasted from another document into WP. Then it sometimes does such oddness to me, too.
Nope, wrote the entire thing in WP. It did the same thing another day. Ahh, well, there are many worse things. 🙂
I was going to go out this morning, too, but it was cloudy again and I had lots to do, so I didn’t. Tomorrow the snow will start melting unfortunately but so it goes.
janet
someone is going in and changing the spelling and grammar – just to have fun at our expense (kiddign)
Great shot, Janet!
Thanks. 🙂
janet
yes! have had issues with WP grammar and glad to hear you have – well not glad – but thought it was just me (ugh)
and I love feeling the joy you have upon seeing a heron – it speaks of your appreciation and well, i hope I also never tire of the joy found in seeing great birds….
I know what you mean about someone else having the same troubles. 🙂 I really love the fishing birds, no matter the season or weather.
janet
🙂
He does look cold
I always wonder if birds feel the cold or how much they do. They’re so often out even when it’s very cold rather than being tucked up in a nest somewhere.
janet
I guess they have to get out and find food and they will need more in the cold to keep their energy up. It is a hard life in nature