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Hekate

(100,133 posts)

34. Gorgeous photos. We have some out here in the slough by the beach...

Sat Apr 9, 2016, 06:01 PM

Apr 2016

One of my favorite memories of all time was of taking a very late afternoon walk along the beach, until it became twilight and we turned back. As the twilight deepened I realized there was a Great Blue Heron pacing us, walking breast high in the waves parallel to the shore. He was hard to see in that light, and became harder and harder to make out, but I kept checking and he was still there. As we reached our destination the lights from the pier blocked out fainter images and I lost sight of him... I don't know when he finally took off, but it was a magnificent experience.

Forgot to say: I'm in the Santa Barbara CA area. We have an amazing number of birds who live here year round or pass through.

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Backyard Visitor [View all] Scuba Apr 2016 OP

They are so beautiful Awknid Apr 2016 #1

Until they speak OnlinePoker Apr 2016 #24

We have a breeding colony on the stream and they make a lot of odd sounds. Noisy birds and haikugal Apr 2016 #26

INCREDIBLE photos! n/t NanceGreggs Apr 2016 #2

Such elegant birds! Little_Wing Apr 2016 #3

Magnificent malaise Apr 2016 #4

Six-foot wing span NJCher Apr 2016 #5

Very cool. SoapBox Apr 2016 #6

Very cool! redstatebluegirl Apr 2016 #7

We have them all around our lake. phylny Apr 2016 #8

Those are wonderful photos! mnhtnbb Apr 2016 #9

Whoa! AlbertCat Apr 2016 #10

What's it worth? Martin Eden Apr 2016 #11

I love the Great Blue Herons! hue Apr 2016 #12

Thanks... Thespian2 Apr 2016 #13

what a beautiful visitor. thank you so much for sharing those lovely pics. niyad Apr 2016 #14

Beeyoutifull.... dhill926 Apr 2016 #15

One of my favorites.....just a spectacular bird.....used to have them in front of our a kennedy Apr 2016 #16

Beautiful birds, bad memories for me d_legendary1 Apr 2016 #17

Wow! We have only one. Duval Apr 2016 #18

Props Bob Loblaw Apr 2016 #19

They make a sound that one imagines sounds like what a Pterodactyl would make. Enthusiast Apr 2016 #20

Lots of birds are predatory. Red-winged blackbirds owned the cattail marsh behind my old house ... Scuba Apr 2016 #23

Red-winged blackbirds make funny sounds too. Almost metallic sounding. Enthusiast Apr 2016 #35

Our favorite nickname for them...Pterodactyl. Great minds...lol haikugal Apr 2016 #28

Turkeys are impressive birds too. Enthusiast Apr 2016 #33

Sometimes they like to stand out on the median strip and pick off gophers. Hekate Apr 2016 #36

Really? I saw one with its head in a McDonalds sack beside the road one time. Enthusiast Apr 2016 #39

As a person Iwillnevergiveup Apr 2016 #21

wonderful pictures, and I LOVE the perfect reflection of this magnificent creature in the water! secondwind Apr 2016 #22

Hide it from Cheney! Helen Borg Apr 2016 #25

I used to wade the rivers while fly fishing yourpaljoey Apr 2016 #27

Beautiful. I used to see them near the Tennessee River Land of Enchantment Apr 2016 #29

Stunning. I love Blue Herons. n/t Triana Apr 2016 #30

Beautful pictures -- thank you for sharing (eom) Samantha Apr 2016 #31

Jackpine Radical said about that bird: ''I'm heron you loud and clear.'' Octafish Apr 2016 #32

Gorgeous photos. We have some out here in the slough by the beach... Hekate Apr 2016 #34

as an avid kayaker I've been awestruck by their beauty for years, and perplexed by one behavior carolinayellowdog Apr 2016 #37

So beautiful democrank Apr 2016 #38

Beautiful. Dont call me Shirley Apr 2016 #40

Great pics! bigwillq Apr 2016 #41

K&R so no one misses this etherealtruth Apr 2016 #42