Were you glued to the 2026 Winter Olympics? I watched some highlights of the various skating events, but quite honestly, since Winter is NOT my favorite season and I detest snow and ice, I bided my time until it was safe to get out with the camera to at least try to enjoy my least-favorite season. That day finally arrived on February 12th, the first of three days when I visited some of my favorite local parks, then a wintry mix forced me back into hibernation and my countdown until Spring’s arrival began anew.
Along the edge.
Perhaps you are wondering about the featured image which is none other than Harry the Heron, Council Point Park’s resident Great Blue Heron. Harry was meandering along the very edge of an icy ledge at the Ecorse Creek. Through the years, most of my photos of this feathered fellow have him standing like a sentry on the shoreline, or peering into the water for fish. Occasionally Harry is pictured wading in the Creek looking for lunch.
Well, here is the backstory about “Harry the Ice Walker”.
Harry was walking on the other side of the Creek in an effort to escape little ol’ me, who had arrived earlier, camera in hand and was clicking away as he stood by himself on the ice, pondering life and why he didn’t live in a warmer clime.
If you squint you can see Harry on the ice, far away from me. I was nowhere near him. The dark blob next to Harry was a snoozing duck.
I zoomed in to get a closer look at Harry.
Ruffled feathers (literally and figuratively) would be the least of his worries.
Well Harry caught sight of me, the pesky photographer, so he bolted, which is not unusual, but when Harry vamooses, it is accompanied by a screech that could wake the dead. But not this time as Harry silently flew across the Creek.
Unfortunately, he did not land gracefully, but instead made a misstep and slipped into the icy-cold water, scattering ducks as they moved away quickly, some paddling furiously, while others flew up. Lots of quacking ensued, thanks to Harry’s mishap.
Harry does not look happy here, his breeding feathers drenched and dripping.
No doubt miffed at me bigtime, Harry hopped onto the icy ledge, dripping wet and looking scrawnier than his already-scrawny self, with his ornamental head breeding feathers (a/k/a occipital plumes) askew.
Now sure-footed as he stood on the icy ledge, Harry quickly assessed the situation, then turned the other way to avoid the ducks, lots of ducks, all Mallards, milling about.
Harry shook his feathers vigorously, fluffing them up …
… then took a long look around …
… then stood there motionless, the gears in his head clicking as he determined his next step.
He swiveled his head to stare me down and, if looks could kill, I’d worry my days were limited as you see in this shot.
The bedraggled-looking Harry decided to leave, to find another spot where he could be alone, but his wings weren’t quite dry.
He gave his feathers another vigorous shake …
… but sadly, it was not like the sun would dry those feathers since the temps were hovering around the freezing mark at that time.
There was one last look at the Mallards (which Harry considered not only shorter, but lesser beings) …
… and he attempted a last-ditch effort to fly away, preparing to lift off.
Sigh – if only they made Yaktrax for herons ….
Flying was still not an option, so Harry’s solution was to simply walk on the ice, thus escaping the mayhem of the Mallards and hopefully thwarting further attempts by the shutter-happy photographer to capture his misery.
He walked very slowly along the icy ledge, taking tiny steps, much like Yours Truly, when there is ice around the house. One step in front of the other – the orthopedic docs even suggest you walk like a penguin, upright with small steps to keep your balance.
Here he is, setting out on his icy journey …
… soon he hit his stride, picking up speed.
Harry, the hapless heron, surprised me with his next move!
Although this gangly Great Blue Heron walked very precariously on the ice, all the while searching for a perfect perching spot, he finally decided it was easier to just wade in the icy Creek enroute to his destination.
Nope, he did NOT make a misstep, nor did he simply slide off the edge – he just plopped down, perhaps weary, or perhaps to save face.
So there you have it in a nutshell – a walk taken by Harry the Heron as witnessed on the walk taken by Yours Truly. Pictures that really tell the tale better than I do.
As a side note, this is not the first time I’ve written about Harry’s escapades on ice. In fact, once, back in the Winter of 2019, I saw him strolling across the Creek, but that time the Ecorse Creek was frozen solid, with a shiny surface of glare ice as you can see in this photo.
That ice sparkled and shimmered like diamonds in the early morning light and thankfully I had my camera handy and captured Harry’s wee stroll. I was actually nervous whether he’d make it across the Creek or not and whew … he did so without incident! I felt like I should be cheering him on. The post was entitled “Slip-Slidin’ Away” and also wrapped up my year-end walking goal. That post and Harry’s fancy footwork may be found by just clicking here.
I am joining Terri’s Monthly Color Challenge: Diamonds and Quartz and Pepper’s One Step at a Time.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
A wonderful heartwarming post about Harry and his ice, winter world, Linda! Beautiful images of Harry walking, staring, bluffing, all amazing! I love your version of the theme this week. Made me smile indeed!
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Thank you Terri! I have been following the antics of Harry since I started walking at Council Point Park, but these two instances were the most memorable. He is quick to bolt, but this time gave me a lot of photos and a tale to tell as he navigated on the ice! And when I got these shots way back in February, I knew they would be perfect for this Color Challenge!
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This is a delightful account!
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Thank you Anne! It was fun watching Harry and his antics and his ice-walking abilities are very similar to mine!
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You can tell he was feeling cold as all his feathers are poofed.
He has his own set of bear paws!
Great shots Linda!
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Thanks Wayne! Yes, that water had to be freezing cold as most of the Creek was still frozen over. He has a massive pair of feet – if he had webbed feet, they’d be the same size as swan’s feet. I had fun photographing him and watching those measured steps along the edge!
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What a miserable time for a Heron. Looks like he didn’t get the lets migrate memo 😂
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You’re right Brian – they are so scrawny and only weigh about five pounds (2.2 kgs), so there is not much meat on their bones to keep them warm. Not all of them migrate south and Harry, whom I’ve been following since I started walking here in 2013, often overwinters here, though I have no idea why he’d stay because once the Creek freezes over, it may be weeks before he can go fishing again unless he goes somewhere where there are open waters, like near a factory or power plant. That is what the eagles do.
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Love your series of photos of Harry, the Heron. A super enjoyable post, Linda. 👏
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Thank you Pepper! I have been following the antics of this heron since I started walking here in 2013. Occasionally there are other herons, but always the presence of Harry year ’round. It was fun watching him and identifying with him as to walking on the ice. 🙂
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Amazing that you have followed him for so long. 👏
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I think he has cornered the market by being the only one there, although I’ve seen a smaller one there from time to time. Good fishing for Harry since he doesn’t have to share. 🙂
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Smart heron. 😊
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Harry the harried heron! Fortunately, the ducks didn’t harass him.
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I think since Harry the harried heron has a horrible demeanor, the ducks may be intimidated by him or maybe give him the cold shoulder. 🙂
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Amazing how they can stand in that cold water. 🙂
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I know Sandra – a lot of the Creek was still frozen so that water had to have been very cold. Although he didn’t fall while walking on the edge of the ice, I wonder if he thought he might fall and just figured wading was easier and safer. Perhaps I’m just thinking like a human, not a heron, though.
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I don’t know how they can stand that cold water!
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I don’t either Kate. I have not been there as much this Winter due to all the ice we had, but no matter when I go in Winter, he is always there, wading in the icy-cold water.
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“Gangly” is a great word for Harry, at least what I perceive from your photos. I love the two shots where he’s staring RIGHT… AT… YOU… He’s got you in his sights Linda, even if we can’t really tell what he’s thinking. Also, your comment about warmer climes has me wondering – do herons fly south for (any part of) the winter? Or like Harry, are they destined to just walk around their habitat since they can hardly fly at all?
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Dave, Harry and I have a history, with me taking photos of him as long as I’ve been coming to this Park (2013). He never flies south, but not all herons stay here in SE Michigan, some do migrate. We have a steel mill a few miles away and the steam opens up the frozen-over Detroit River, so he probably fishes there, like the eagles do, when everything else is frozen. The steel mill is basically closed down, but operates with a skeleton crew, so not as much steam is emitted as when it was still open three shifts a day for decades.
Harry does not like me – he always bolts when he sees me and squawks as he takes off. If I get photos, it is because I am behind him out of his sight. I know he was mad he felt the need to relocate because he saw me, but I included the long shot that I was really nowhere near him, up on the shoreline and he was on the opposite side of the Creek. I think he felt he had to walk as he got all his feathers soaking wet. They often fish from the shoreline by bending over and studying the water and spearing them with their bill, so they can stay dry. He was pretty wet after he plunged into the water. I don’t know why any of our birds would stay here when they could migrate away from the cold/snow/ice, but he is older, so maybe he doesn’t think he could make it? Even our Robins don’t all migrate anymore.
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You weave together wonderful stories about your photos. Fun!
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Thank you Anne! It was fun to watch him navigate that ice as he walked just like I do, slowly and precariously. He was not happy with his situation, over there amongst all the ducks and no doubt blaming me. He is never happy with me and I know he wishes I’d find another subject to photograph! 🙂
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I’m glad you keep after the heron. Some of his photos are really amusing.
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Yes, especially when his feathers look like he has bed head!
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Poor Harry ! He doesn’t look happy at all. He’s like me, when is spring/summer coming ? lol It’s cold here today and rainy. I do not watch any Olympics to be honest, never have. I did watch the last Canada/US men’s hockey game because we were with a group of people in Mexico and everyone was glued to the tv. I was glued to the tv for about 20 minutes and then went outside to the sunshine lol
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Harry was not a happy camper at all and if he didn’t like me before, he sure liked me less after he figured he wouldn’t have landed in the water or been walking along the icy ledge if I hadn’t shown up with the camera 🙂 My mom and I followed the men’s and women’s solo figure skaters for years – it was at the height of the “two Brians” (Brian Orser and Brian Boitano) and when Nancy Kerrigan got whacked in the knee(s) by Tonya Harding’s friends, that happened right here in Detroit. There was a program called ABC Sports on Saturday afternoons and we’d tape all the ice-skatinge events leading up to the Olympics, so we were familiar with all the skaters. We never watched pairs or ice-dancing or ice hockey. Susan, the weather is just crazy. Right now it is 83F (28C) and we have severe weather tonight and the next two days, maybe even Thursday, plus Saturday because of the heat spike among other things. It is never this warm this early – crazy.
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Oh, I remember that incident with Nancy Kerrigan and the other one. Can’t believe someone would do something like that. We have pouring down heavy rain today and it’s cool but yes, it’s supposed to go up in temperature and in another couple of days. At least we don’t have any snow in the forecast lol
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Yes, it was terrible and at a big skating event too. I had to work late that night – we had an appellate brief due the next day and this was before electronic filing. My boss/I stayed late to finish it and bind it, then we had to go to the Fed Ex office to send it before Fed Ex closed. We walked outside and there were police everywhere and TV news stations from everywhere, not just local. We had been immersed in the brief and stopped and asked a police officer what happened. We had a bad storm last night with lots of rain, but later today we have severe weather – I’m worried as it is an amped-up storm, 3 on a scale of 6 including tornados and 70-80 mph winds. Our area will be after midnight thru 2:00 a.m. and another severe day tomorrow. I would like the cold weather back which we get Sunday and a chance of frost – there go the fleurs! They are having some snow in northern Michigan!
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What a wonderful series of photos and great narration.
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Thanks Ruth! It was a lot of fun watching Harry taking a stroll on the ice, just as slowly and carefully as I would. He was up to usual antics of avoiding me and/or messing with me. 🙂
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Sounds like things are coming along despite a few hiccups and supply issues.
I can understand this would be a good time to revisit your retirement goals given what you’ve accomplished and what has changed.
I’m good with short-term lists, but have never been much for long range plans. Maybe I should give it some thought. Living moment to moment does sometimes lead me to piddle around doing nothing at times. But then, I am not the type to think I must be constantly productive.
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The weather has impacted me severely this last year and a lot of what I planned walk-wise, photography-wise has been impacted by ongoing severe weather. Five of the next six days will have severe weather. I’ve been monitoring a bad storm this evening and thinking I may be headed to the basement momentarily. I have read a lot this Winter/early Spring, something I missed doing when I was working.
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Somehow I posted this comment on the wrong blog, Linda. Apologies.
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No problem Eilene – I thought you may have done so. I’ve done that myself a few times.
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Poor Harry looks so cold! We managed to miss the Winter Olympics completely. I have no idea why we weren’t inspired to watch but maybe it was for the same reason you didn’t catch most of it… winter, snow, cold: yuck!
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Yes, he does Janis, especially when he ended up in the “drink”. I used to follow all the men/women figure skaters years ago from their regional special events up to and through the Olympics, but I don’t know any of the newer skaters.
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Poor Harry! Not having a good time out there and not able to get away from pesky Linda!!
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Yes, I always seem to be in Harry’s perceived personal space Eilene!
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Miss Linda………………………………….those are beautiful close up pictures of the GBH from Council Point Park………………………..I just love Herons…………………………….I didn’t know that they had that blue streak on their head……………………..you are an very good story teller also besides an excellent photographer……………………………any of the feathered fowl make me smile in the winter when they try to walk on the snow and ice………………
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Ann Marie – thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos and my story too. You and I probably watched Harry together when you were still walking at Council Point Park as he’s been there since I started walking there in 2013. I love Herons too and this one is really aware of me as he often sees me and beats a hasty and loud retreat, but this time it didn’t work out so well. It was special seeing him navigate on the ice those two times. I was glad that I had the camera to capture him.
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Love these pictures of Harry’s fancy footwork on the winter ice in the “Slip-Slidin’ Away” post. He must be getting pretty old by now! To think, the pandemic was only getting started when you wrote that post. Your narrative on this post is wonderful – you do a great job of reading his body language and figuring out what he’s probably thinking about this frozen world. Another winter to get through. I wonder if his joints hurt the way ours do as we age.
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I’m glad you liked the photos and narrative Barbara. I really feel that since I’ve observed and photographed him all these years, I’ve gotten to understand him, though I really don’t know why he bolts when he sees me – surely, he must recognize me by now and know I mean no harm. And, in the beginning part of this post I was not close to him at all. Perhaps he feels more vulnerable in the Winter months. I also wonder if year after year of cold and wintry conditions affect wild animals and birds like we humans endure as well.
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Such a great post where we can feel the energy on the ice that day – and I love Harry the Heron and his many shots – and those fun plumes. Also, the diamond and sparjle of ice was a fanatstic tie in – with some great photos and the tip to walk like a penhuin. Ice can so scary….
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Thank you Yvette! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It was fun to put together and also to watch Harry on the ice since I’ve been observing him all these years. The ice is as scary for him to navigate as it is for us humans. I thought he was doing pretty well with his precarious steps, so I was surprised when he decided to plunge into the icy cold water.
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yes, I can see why that was a surprise… brrrrrrrr
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What a beautiful series of images of the heron! Poor cold bird!
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Thank you Dawn! I felt so sorry for this poor heron. It was only around 32 degrees so I imagine the water was even more miserable than standing on the ice.
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I love your series and story of Harry! Ice and birds don’t mix well, lol, I’ve seen so many of them slip-sliding away, making me giggle, then I feel bad that I giggled. Darn, I’m giggling now! 😉
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Thank you Donna! I kept expecting Harry’s legs to go out from under him and hoped he wouldn’t be severely injured, but he was okay. That last time, the glare ice was so slick that he took a long time to cross the Creek. He walks like I do on the ice. 🙂
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Interesting adventures for Harry and lots of steps for you. 🙂 I don’t know how the birds can take the winter cold, especially when they get soaked like Harry. The ice-skating events were about all that I purposely watched during the Olympics, though Bobsledding did catch my attention.
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Rebecca, I sure felt sorry for poor Harry when he fell into the water, so I was really surprised to see him hop in again, but I guess wading in ice cold water beats walking on an icy ledge. I don’t know how they survive either and he is always there every Winter. Maybe migrating would be too difficult on him at his age. I only made it to the Park a handful of times after our first snowfall in November and saw him each time. I’ve never watched the bobsledding event, but I have seen the luge competition before and I can’t imagine how scary that would be going at that speed on an icy track.
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That was hilarious! What a wonderful story and the pictures are priceless. Yes, he does not look happy.
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Thank you Joni! It was fun watching Harry, taking his pictures as he endured his ordeal and as he stared me down and then writing about it! He was not happy to be soaking wet in 32-degree weather!
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But it was his own fault, not yours!
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Yes, that’s how I see it too Joni but I don’t know if he sees it that way. I’d better watch I don’t stand too close to the shoreline as he might come up behind me and push me in some day.
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Excellent shots! I loved the winter olympics, especially the half-pipe and the slalom events!
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Thanks Tom! It was fun watching Harry – he is a fixture at Council Point Park and I’ve been watching and photographing him for years. It was interesting that he walked a little on the ice and then suddenly plopped into the water, so I guess he thought wading was safer than walking on the ice. I have never watched those Olympic events, but I used to watch all the men’s and women’s figure skating events in the Olympics and also some of the competitive events leading up to the Olympics. Back then I knew all their names – I don’t know any of them now.
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