I told myself a couple of years ago that I was no longer going to rely 100% on the weather forecasts and cheat myself out of a walk in doing so. Too many times that Summer, I had listened to the weatherman, or scoped out The Weather Channel, then heeded their predictions for rain or otherwise ugly weather the next morning. That caused me to decide to sleep in and forego my walk, only to awaken to sun streaming in the window. Grrrrr! Since then, I listen to what the weather folks have to say, but rely on what I see with my own eyes instead.
Like this morning.
I felt pretty confident heading out at my usual time, since the predicted snow showers and frozen precipitation were slated for mid-to-late morning. I looked outside, and even though it was somewhat gloomy looking, it was dry as a bone. No wintry-type weather was going to stop me in my tracks today!
So off I went.
Halfway to Council Point Park, a snowflake or two fluttered down and landed on my coat. I thought to myself “well, if this is all the snow they’ve been crowing about, it’s no big deal!”
But, by the time I wended my way down Pagel Avenue and arrived at the Park, the snow showers were fast and furious, and, though nothing was sticking, the perimeter path was soaking wet. That snow was coming down pretty hard, but I decided I had not walked a mile only to turn around and return home, and besides … there were two other walkers on the other side of the loop. So I stayed.
The snow was still a’flyin’ when I saw him.
A Great Blue Heron was standing on the cement landing. I have had a love/hate relationship with a Great Blue Heron for over a year. All Summer I see him as I near the cement landing. There he is, standing on those spindly legs waiting to catch a fish. But usually, once he sees me he takes off. I’ve gotten a few shots of him but that’s because he was staring into space and not paying attention.
This morning we made eye contact, and he bolted before I could even take out the camera. Another missed opportunity I thought. I figured it was just as well, as I didn’t want the camera getting all wet from those snow showers. He flew across the Ecorse Creek and stood in the water where I got a better look at him. He was definitely not the same heron I’ve been pursuing for an up-close photo all these months. He was much larger; the other heron seemed scrawny in comparison. And this heron’s crest and plumage were more blue than all gray. I found a tree to go under to give some protection to the camera, then parted some dead brush and zoomed in.
I even took off my gloves to use my bare hands like a hood to shield the camera lens while I studied this beautiful bird. It seemed he was preening and/or picking at his bugs forever.
My hands were freezing, the snow showers were incessant, and now turning into a sleety mixture and leaving big damp spots on my coat. Finally, he posed for me and I clicked off a few shots. I continued watching him through the camera, so I was surprised when suddenly there was a flurry of activity. His body puffed out, with each feather on end, and I saw that long neck snake out into the water. Look at the wriggling green fish he caught with his spear-like beak! If you look closely, in this photo only, you can see the frozen precip landing on the water.
With that prize fish clamped firmly in his beak, the heron returned to an upright position and I took its picture once again.
I decided not to linger to determine the ultimate fate of the fish, but to get going. It was serendipity that I should have continued my journey on a snow-showery April day, only to cross paths with this beautiful Great Blue Heron.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Gorgeous creature. Pretty good pics considering the weather didn’t help matters. 🙂
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Thanks Beckie – I could hardly wait to upload them and see how clear they came out considering the weather. I had several pics that were all fogged over from the sleet, as much as I put my hand over to protect the lens. The camera is okay though – I put it in front of the bathroom register then shot a few photos when I got home and it was fine. That bird was beautiful and so big. I felt lucky it crossed my path.
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Marvelous photos, Linda!! I used to see great blues on Long Island, but I never zoomed in enough to tell much about them.
I used to stay in bed when the weather forecast was promising horrible weather. Like you, I now look out of the window before making up my mind to sleep or walk.
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Thanks Anne and I’ve been following this one heron around for about 18 months now … had some pics of him but he usually bolts. This one stayed put and too bad the weather was so crummy as I would have liked to stay longer and maybe get some more shots of him (her?).
I will always listen to the weather folks but like you missed many walks that way. Today, they got it right – pouring raining this morning, at 9:00 the sun came out and supposed to be windy, so perhaps I will venture out if I get done here early enough.
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We had a pleasant walk this morning, leaving the house when the temp was 33F. The sun pops up so quickly these days. It was warming our backs at the creek. If it keeps shining, we might eat on the porch in the middle of the day.
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Hope you got to eat lunch outside today Anne. Our weather is extraordinarily warm today – right now it is 75 degrees, 4 degrees higher than predicted originally, and the wind is gusting at about 18-20 mph. That part doesn’t excite me, but I am shutting down and going to head outside – how different from yesterday when I last was outside and it was 32 degrees and sleet … it starting sleeting on the way home. Not nice at all – I just hope this hot weather does not turn into stormy weather. It has not been bad weather on a weekend in two months – this Saturday I have to go to my hair appointment and it is supposed to be stormy most of Saturday. I’m angry at myself for not making it any other Saturday but this one. This weather has been just crazy. I’ve been here since 9:30 this morning due to the rainy morning, and am ready to get up and get going.
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We did eat on the porch! It was 72 degrees then. This afternoon we worked in the garden a bit. It’s nice to sit down inside again.
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I can top your heat – we had 76 and I was inspired to write a blog this morning – not so much about what I saw, but the different perception in the morning and the evening. 76 degrees! Back to colder weather and an all-day rain Saturday and most of Sunday.
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Two steps forward and one step back. John said he caught the thermometer saying 80 degrees for a little while. It’s still cool enough to feel great.
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80 degrees! Well you are a warm-weather state after all – I thought I had topped your hot day. As long as no severe weather came of it, I’m happy, though we will have much rain and north of where I live are going to have freezing rain tomorrow (just rain for us unfortunately all weekend) and way up north is going to get about a foot of snow.
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I haven’t looked at our forecast. It won’t be nearly as bad as yours.
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You’re lucky as ours is the pits today.
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Miss Lind……………………………great close-up shots of the GBH………………….hey………………..that sure looks like a perch he was catching to me……………………..cool……………………
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Do you think it is your GBH that the geese chased away from your pond? I’d like to think so. I was surprised fish that big exist at the Creek but I’ve seen people fishing there before, so they must be catching a big enough fish to make it worth their while. I’ve seen that GBH fishing there plenty of times, but never saw him catch anything. Today is warm enough for you and Steven to go fishing.
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Beautiful photos of the heron!😊 The weather is still very varied. One day it’s almost summer heat, the next day it’s winter cold.
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Thank you John – wish the conditions would have been better and he was way across the Creek on top of it. Yesterday morning was snowing and today we have 71 degrees – our weather is as crazy as yours!
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I have never seen a heron up close before, thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. Linda you’re right about weather channels, some days they miss it, other times their predictions are correct. It’s a good choice that you take your walks despite negative weather forecasts.😊♥️🌺
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Thank you Iri – I am glad you liked those photos. The weather was atrocious at the time … couldn’t walk this morning as it was pouring raining, but today … 71 degrees and maybe a walk this evening?
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I’m sorry to hear that. It’s sunny 🌞 out today in Chicago and slightly warm. Hope to get new photos from your walk later today. Have a blessed day Linda. 😊♥️
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Wonderful shots! 🙂 There are too many crass hunters who are willing to break the law (in our rural area), so herons are (justifiably) very elusive!
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Thank you Tom … I wish I had close shots of him, but this is a new heron and I’m lucky he stayed in one place long enough to watch him.
I hate what the hunters are doing … or the cruel people who shoot Canada Geese and leave them with an arrow in their side or a bullet wound, just for sport. I am going out in 41-degree weather. I just wrote a post about last night’s walk … I never write in the morning … that is about as strange as the weather. 🙂
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WOW! He’s – he’s actually blue! I love the puffy-scruffy snowed-on look of him – I’m sure it reflects how you were feeling just then! lol!
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I’ve never seen such a big heron – I was in awe of him, the other one usually bolts and he is so scrawny, he looks like he needs a good meal. My fingers were frozen – 32 degrees and trying to capture this photo.
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