What a great way to spend the 100th day of my year long bird photography project. After six days straight of rain, snow, sleet and high winds, the sun came out for a short while in northern Minnesota. This was all the incentive I needed to hike into a Great Blue Heron rookery which I had been meaning to visit. The snow had finally melted on most of the trail, and after a decent very, very wet and mushy hike I arrived at the rookery.

I hope you enjoy just a few of the photographs I took this morning. It was so much fun to watch and photograph these majestic and glorious birds. In total I spent almost two hours on location including my hike from the trail head. Upon reaching the rookery I spent fifteen minutes slowly moving close enough for decent photographs. I did not want to spook the assembled multitudes, and thankfully effort that was successfully rewarded.

Finally, the entire time I was photographing the herons, a red-shafted flicker was serenading me. I’ve included two photos at the end of the post. The flicker found a mate!

• View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon image to view at full size)

The Happy Couple building their nest

———-

The Happy Couple

———-

The same couple … backing off a bit with my zoom

———-

The same couple … backing off even a bit more with my zoom

———-

When I first arrived, one section of the rookery was bathed in brilliant blue sky

———-

Clouds are now rolling in as I take one last photo before hiking back to the trailhead


———-

Looking for a good woman!

———-

Found!

Discovered shis morning while going to check out a heron rookery that some ospreys had moved back onto a next atop an old steam shovel. I visited twice and was fortunate to see the ospreys not only work at rebuilding the next, but saw the male fend off competitors for his lady. It was a fantastic experience. I plan to visit through the course of the spring and summer.

Oh yes … I have also included one photo of the Great Blue Heron rookery which I originally set out to find this morning. I got distracted by the Ospreys which I discovered first, and did not have much time at the rookery. I’ll post more photos in a few days on a return visit.

• View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon image to view at full size)

Need another stick?

———-

Landing now!

———-

Now cleared for takeoff

———-

The happy couple

———-

Love “screams”

 ———-

Great Blue Heron Love