This tree often has bald eagles in it

But last weekend it was packed with great blue herons! I counted five in the photo below, but there were several more in the tree next to it. I usually see herons in this area, so that part wasn’t a surprise, but it was so special to see so many in one place! It looked like they were all having a little nap.

A dead-looking wildlife tree against a grey sky has five great blue herons perched on its branches with their backs to the camera and their heads tucked in their wings.

While I’m looking around for birds, I try to remember to just take in the whole scenery and the mountains and clouds were on form! I love that look of fog above the water, clear sky to see the peaks, and rolling clouds above. Warm blue/grey gradient, anyone?

Scenic view of water with a strip of land and a scraggly tree in front of snow-covered mountains and a cloudy sky.

Seeing ring necked ducks is always a treat because of their fancy gold eye and striped beak. Such a dramatic black head too! This one was spending time with a flock of wigeons. I don’t understand duck society, but it seem like they’re happy to spend time with other kinds of ducks pretty often. I’m sure folks have done intense studies of the subject!

A lone ring necked duck is floating in green water.

You know how much I adore great blue herons! I probably have thousands of pictures of them, but I’m working on improving my video skills, so here’s one being very, very sneaky. Look at that foot! Just look at it!

A great blue heron stepping very stealthily in green reeds alongside a pond.

A double crested cormorant is perched at the very edge of a streaked post.

And this post is a favourite spot for cormorants to hang out. Their feet are also extremely wonderful, but in a totally different way. They look kind of like weird rubber gloves or something. And that mottled colouring on this one’s throat is very interesting. I’m wondering if maybe it’s a juvenile?

Do you have favourite bird feet? If you’ve never thought about it, I highly recommend looking as closely as you can the next time you get the chance because bird feet are amazing. (I mean, have you ever seen a coot’s feet? Amazing! Photographing coot feet is a lifelong goal of mine.) Please tell me about the bird feet that amaze you in the comments.

How Many Herons Can you Spot?

This tree often has bald eagles in it

You Might Also Like