A Great Blue Heron stands at the edge of calm water, framed by dry branches and shoreline vegetation. The bird faces left with its long neck extended and orange bill visible, its blue‑gray plumage catching the light against the rippling surface of the water.

In the hush of the shoreline, a Great Blue Heron rises from the tangle of branches, its calm presence mirrored in the rippling water.

​This is the closest I have been to a blue heron…

With wildlife, I’m convinced that no matter how much you try to plan ahead it's really just dumb luck that you are in the right spot at the right time.
We had been driving around Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge for a few hours looking for wildlife when the clouds started rolling in and the winds picked up. It was getting pretty dark so we decided it was time to head home.

As we drove back across the dam road, a blue heron glided over the water and plopped himself down not 25 yards in front of us; right next to the only parking spot on that narrow road as if to say, “Take my picture!” We whipped over and I jumped out of the car.

Two men were fishing from the dock no more than 30 feet from him. They appeared to be drunk. They were screaming in excitement and their voices carried easily over the water.

“Did you see that!” the one fisherman exclaimed to the other as I squatted down along the edge of the road.  

I didn’t want to waste this opportunity so I didn't take the time to swap lenses. With my 400mm lens and 1.4x extender on my 7D, I was far too close to Mr. Heron to get the shot and had to back up a few feet. 

​The second time I squatted down, I drew the drunker of the two guy’s attention, “What’s she doing, she’s not peeing right there is she?”

“Nah, she’s just takin’ a picture.”

I chuckled all night about that. If those two couldn’t scare away the heron, I don’t think anything could. I ended up leaving before he did.
​
Here’s a couple of other Great Blue Heron images that I shot earlier in the day….
A Great Blue Heron flies low over the water with its wings fully extended, passing above a rippling surface near a shoreline of dry grasses and bare branches.

Skimming just above the ripples, a Great Blue Heron sweeps past the winter‑worn shoreline, its wings opening against the muted woods.

A Great Blue Heron stands in shallow water near a quiet shoreline, surrounded by leafless trees and muted brown vegetation reflected in the calm surface.

Along a still stretch of water, a Great Blue Heron pauses among leafless branches, its reflection drifting in the muted light.

More information on Crab Orchard NWR  in southern Illinois can be found here.

Not every image makes it into my blog. If you enjoyed the photos in this article, please visit my Image Gallery with over 4000 images of locations around the United States.


I have several galleries of birds and wildlife art:

Birds, Eagles, Ducks & Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and ​Animals & Wildlife​


Framed photograph of a great blue heron standing on a fallen log surrounded by tall green grasses and reeds near the edge of a calm wetland. The heron’s grayish-blue feathers and long neck are clearly visible, and the image is displayed within a warm brown wood frame with two mats — a wide moss-green top mat and a narrow forest-green bottom mat — hanging above a beige sofa in a cozy living room setting.

Invite the stillness of the wetlands into your home with this striking portrait of a great blue heron. Rich natural tones and quiet, contemplative detail make it a standout piece for anyone who loves wildlife, serene landscapes, and the calming presence of nature‑inspired art.

Fine Art Prints are available for order as print only, framed art, canvas art, metal art, acrylic art, and wood art prints in various sizes. Home Decor and Gift Ideas include shower curtains, throw pillows, towels, totes, phone cases, t-shirts, puzzles, blankets, and more. Worldwide Shipping with a 30-day money-back guarantee.