Great Blue Herons Can And Do Swim... Slowly...

Thanks Leo, Dustin and Jason. Yes, these are all slightly cropped, but not by much. The first one is with the 1.4x TC on, then I changed it out real quick when I saw what he was going to do and shot the rest with just the Bigma so as to have the benefit of autofocus. I was sitting in the grass near my truck, but he could still see me fine, it just didn't bother him. This is the closest any of them have let me get. I had already been there for an hour or more so I guess he figured I was harmless.

WOW!!!!! GBH swimming. NOW I've seen everything.

So do you just walk around with the camera attached to you at all times? You're series' are stunning. Love the work you do

HA, no, it's too heavy for that, but, unless I'm just going to the Kwik-Trip or someplace I have to leave it in the truck, it's always beside me on the seat. I have gotten most of my hawk shots from the window of the truck, but generally I now use a tripod all the time. And it pays off, especially for these guys who move real slow.

Interesting... I've seen herons for years but have never seen one completely off the bank into the water swimming. Didn't know they did that.

Nice shots Mitch! I guess with those long skinny (non-webbed) feet it must have been a tough paddle!

Thanks VI. I first saw it while at Kentucky Lake. These guys were everywhere. We even had a tame one on the dock. But since the lake rises and falls depending on the dam openings, the water can fool you. where one day a heron could stand on a submerged stump, the next he would be neck deep. And I've seen them step off those stumps into deep water. They didn't seem to mind it, but I have never seen one actually and on purpose do any swimming when flying seems to be so much easier.

Grizz, I was watching for his legs paddling furiously, but he seemed to move rather slowly. It took several minutes for him to cross.

Now thats Kewl Mitch, well done !

Hey Trevor, thanks. I can't believe I was ever worried about finding a GBH to shoot.

Wonderful series, Mitch. Who would have thought that a GBH could swim. Not surprising that it's slow with those long skinny legs. I don't imagine they make very good paddles.

HAHA, thanks Shirley. I was thinking Olive Oyl when I watched it happen.

Very cool series indeed!

I think all the gators around here is why I have not seen this

Thanks Stephen. Your probably right.

Mitch, I had never seen the GBH swim either, that's a great series and interesting with your description of his progress across the channel. The bird certainly portrayed its regal nature as he swam.

Thanks Bill. I always like looking at pics of these birds, they have so much character and they always seem to be doing something different. I can't pass one up, even when I already have plenty of shots of them.