This is a Great Blue Heron. I live near a public fishing lake and more than people fish in it. This guy was sitting on a stump and went in after this fish and this is him returning to the stump to eat his fish. It is a trip watching them swallow the fish too. I found a heron rookery (nesting area) about a half mile from this spot in a heavy wooded creek bottom. There is no people around and it is hard to get to unless you can fly in like this guy. I have been thrilled to witness them flying in and feeding their mate as they sit on the eggs.
There is twelve nests with twenty four birds and there is a lot of racket in these woods. You know when you find the trees they are in from all the heron poop all over the weeds and forest floor.
These birds take turns going out to feed and I see them at this lake almost any time I go there. After the chicks hatch the action will really be on as they will have to feed them day and night. Mom and dad will stay busy. I too will be busy sitting along the shore waiting to catch them going in after a fish. It is so exciting for me to watch this and have the privilege to get photographs of them. I hope you enjoy seeing them too!
I am using an Olympus E3 camera ISO 400 with a 70-300mm lens 1000/sec f8