Feb. 4, 2018 - Great Blue Herons at St. Andrews State Park

Diana and I visited St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, Florida, last week. There is a pond within the park called Gator Lake. Alligators like to bask in the sun, but it was cloudy and cool the day we were there, so we didn’t see any gators. This island is in the middle of Gator Lake and there’s a small Great Blue Heron rookery on the island. Some of the herons and their nests can be seen among the trees on the island.

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Here’s a close-up of one heron and its nest. You can see that the nest is a messy jumble of sticks woven together. The bird looks funny because it has its head tucked under its wing. I’m pretty sure it’s too early for eggs in the nest.

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Several Snowy Egrets were preening at the edge of the island. In addition, there is a Green Heron in the lower right corner of this photo.

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Across the road from Gator Lake there were some shallow ponds. This heron and deer were both feeding in the pond. I’m sure this is the first time I have taken a photo of a White-tailed Deer and a Great Blue Heron this close to each other.

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I also walked out on a short boardwalk to a marsh overlook. This Great Blue Heron came flying in right over me.

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It landed in a tree just a short distance away.

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The heron was close enough that I could take a full frame head shot. The wind was blowing its head plumes straight out behind the bird.

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