Saturday, July 5, 2014

A Day In The Life of

Heron nest

Great Blue Herons (GBHs) make their nests high up in the branches of dead trees.

Stretching and screaming

Living quarters are crowded...

Two nests

very crowded...

 Four herons in one nest

very, VERY crowded. And sometimes the neighbours live incredibly close, the walls so thin you can hear everything they say and do.

Ready to fly the coop from the nest

Sometimes it's a pleasure to leave the nest to get food.  Or maybe she was flapping her wings to fan herself. It was a HOT day.

Yes these photos have been cropped severely as herons nest very high up in tall trees. To make photographing these guys even harder, there's a marsh all around these trees.

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

54 comments:

  1. Wow, their living quarters are crowded☆☆☆ I smiled "Stretching and screaming" scene♪♪♪

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi EG And here was me thinking you had waded through the march and climbed the tree to get these shots!!! Your shots are wonderful, 'nest stacking' I think. If I were a Heron I would want to be in the top nest otherwise the dropping might fall on me! Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Herons are a common sight here, but I have never seen a nest or anything like this. these photos are totally awesome... you should submit them to a bird magazine... the world needs to see this. i added a link on my post today.. did i say awesome shots??? wow

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am back with hubby, he says he has never seen anything like this. the two nest that close. amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cropped or not, these are amazing photos. I've never seen anything like this. I see an occasional Heron, but never more than one at a time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haven't seen a Great blue herons nest since living in Illinois. Great shots!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely shots / amazing how crowded they are...now, I wonder if there are any RICH herons living in mansion nests somewhere :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Awesome photos of the Heron rookery! It is a neat sight to see these large herons nesting in the treetops! Thank you for linking up with my critter party.. Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Superb shots of herons in their nest.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amazing and great photos of fantastic birds!
    Well done my dear!
    JetteMajken

    ReplyDelete
  11. They're such magnificent birds, I've always thought. I've never seen so many together.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great pics. I love watching them, they are such unlikely birds and I've seen them everywhere from dusty western Oklahoma to the Alabama coast.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great shots of these amazing birds. I think I like the two story nest the best..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow...what great shots of some amazing subjects. I love their hi-rise apartments. lol
    xo bj

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well they look pretty safe up there from tree climbing predators, not to mention those dagger-ike bills.
    Nice pictures indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've seen herons and I've seen some herons' nests but never seen one actually nesting - great shots.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very good shots! Love the last one with the wings spread.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

    ReplyDelete
  18. Staying so high up can always have a good view of the world.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great shots, EG. I find it so silly to see those long legged birds way up high in nests. Seems almost wrong. There are about 5 nests along the creek on the ranch. MB

    ReplyDelete
  20. Their nests are amazing. Imagine if we tried to build something like that. It'd fall apart, that's if we could even get that far in the process.

    ReplyDelete
  21. These are wonderful! They nest here too and I have tried to get some pictures but none turned out as good as yours.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Rooms with a view to be sure, even if they are a bit small. Terrific collection of photos.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've never seen a Heron's nest so this was a real teat! Imagine living so close to your neighbours...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow- great captures. I see herons frequently, but I have yet to see a nest. These nests look too tiny for the occupants!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow- great captures. I see herons frequently, but I have yet to see a nest. These nests look too tiny for the occupants!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh well done EG. Weird to see so many BIG birds in one nest.. I hope to show two darters in a small nest soon, but there's only two of them I think it's time for your herons to think about 'up-sizing' :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've never seen a heron nest either, EG! These are fabulous pics!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Super duper photos! I have never seen a heron nest in the wild but I am still hoping.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi, I come from Sandra. These pics are AMAZING! I have never seen a heron nest, and I am a birdwatcher, too. I have seen the herons, though. I did not now they nest in only dead trees, I wonder why that is? I love the shot where you caught the baby screaming. And under those conditions, the pics are so clear!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Herons are everywhere in southwest Florida, and we even get the odd heron in Connecticut. But, frankly, I have not run across a nest. Thanks for informing me. I can hardly wait to get to a Florida cocktail party so I can pontificate about heron nests.

    ReplyDelete
  31. What magnificent birds. You captured them so well.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Awesome shots! That's very crowded. I think the upper nest is safer than the lower nest. :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Some of the best heron shots I've ever seen!

    =)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great photo, they live in crowded colonies and have a stressful live.

    ReplyDelete
  35. A challenging photo shoot but a good result.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I have never been able to get that close or even see their nest. Great shots!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Wonderful shots!! You caught some great "everyday life" moments. There's a small island at the northern end of San Francisco Bay/Richmond Bay that is a preserve and a popular nesting spot for egrets. My husband would row us near it and we'd take in the sights much like these. It was also a total cacophony of screeching and squawking that only got worse as the chicks got older.

    ReplyDelete
  38. So many Herons around Durham Region this year. We even have one living in the school yard park. However, I have never seen a nest - great captures!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi EG, I thought these photos were just fabulous and really gave us an insight to the Herons' living quarters! Most interesting and your commentary is delightful :D)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Amazing photos, Amazing find.

    ReplyDelete
  41. This is so good... Really made me laugh and as well brought back memories. We used to watch a rookery in Oregon . Could never believe those big old birds on those little branches ans, just as you say, the crowded nests. So fun to watch. Thanks for the smiles and the memories!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Great post! How exciting to see all thes herons!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Wow! What fun to see both nests! I wonder if they are territorial at all....Really neat post!

    ReplyDelete
  44. How I missed these I will never know...Sandra mentioned them in one of her posts so I came to look. They are wonderful! I bet it gets noisy there for sure. Wonder if they have earplugs?

    ReplyDelete
  45. What beautiful birds, and these photographs are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Amazing and awe inspiring!!!!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  47. how cool, a two story building. :) Great shots!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Well done, again. They are so large, aren't they?

    ReplyDelete
  49. It may not have been easy, but you ended up with some nice photos!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Were these anywhere near one of the lake areas?
    Awesome pics:)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the world. I hope you enjoyed your stay here. Please leave a comment before you leave so I can visit your blog.