22 Comments
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Francesca Bossert's avatar

What incredible photos! Was it particularly lucky to find a blue heron? Thank you for sharing:)

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks Francesca! This year, the number of Great Blue Herons at the conservation area has been much lower than years past. I am not sure why, but I think they may be avoiding the park due to too many construction projects going on locally. I hope to see more in the coming years as the projects in the park are completed.

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Francesca Bossert's avatar

I see a lot of normal grey herons here in Switzerland, they just hang by the side of the roads, or in trees. They are gorgeous too. We used to have a very big pond in our previous house, and one used it for his fishing ground! He ate so many Koi and goldfish! But he was beautiful to watch. I just felt a bit sorry for the fish. I hope you see more Great Blue ones in the next few years. I love seeing wildlife; my current house is on agricultural land, so we get a lot of birds, and hares, and even deer! It's such a privilege. xx

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Sarah Teresa Cook's avatar

This is amazing

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks Sarah and much appreciated.

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Michael's avatar

Photos were amazing and the poetry was really apt. ❤️

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks Michael and much appreciated. Always a challenge to capture the mood of a moment in Nature with mere words.

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Michael's avatar

But you make the effort! All our ancestors did, thank goodness, or all we'd have to read would be shop manuals!

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janoskar.hansen@gmail.com's avatar

two in one, lovely poem and birds

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thank you janoskar.hansen and much appreciated.

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James Freitas's avatar

Great shots Neil. I’m spoiled in that I see these herons often—but it’s impossible not to take photos of them. I got in the snobby habit of not looking at them as much when uploading and editing, but have been spending more time reminding myself that they are beautiful and poring over shots, smiling—particularly of an unbothered heron that let me astoundingly close at a fish hatchery. Thank you for buttressing my realization that I shouldn’t take them for granted.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks James and I was doing the same until the past year or so. I'd see a Great Blue Heron and mentally count it. I have come to really appreciate them so much more. Such a treat to them these days.

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Paolo Peralta's avatar

Just gorgeous ❤️

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thank you Paolo.

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Heidi Zawelevsky's avatar

Wonderful post, Neil. To sleep, perchance to dream. This is another magical encounter that you are sharing with us and the stillness of the moment, even in the waking of the Great Blue Heron, gives me much to consider and appreciate.

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks Heidi and much appreciated. I hope this heron had some good dreams!

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SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

Such a privilege to see a sleepy heron, thanks for sharing it with us!

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks Sydney and happy to share! :)

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Emma Liles's avatar

Ahhhh these pictures Neil!! I have never seen them in their sleeping posture. To wrap myself in my own feather cloak like that…💫

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks Emma! I was surprised too - this was the closest I had been seeing them sleep. :)

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Mohika Mudgal's avatar

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous 😍

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Neil Barker's avatar

Thanks Mohika and much appreciated.

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