In this weekend edition I’d like to introduce to you our next door neighbor, the Great Blue Heron. He calls our beach and the nature reserve home. Like we do.
When he’s not at work – fishing in the marsh, he likes to go to the beach. Like we do. He usually checks out the scene from the rocks at the end of the reserve. His preferred pastime is to watch people fishing. Sometimes he even volunteers to guard the fish bucket. And he doesn’t mind company. Provided it’s of the right kind.
I also have to update you on the situation regarding other important residents, namely the osprey family. I now know for sure that the couple has one offspring, not two. He is growing fast and seems to be hungry all the time. The papa osprey is away on fishing trips most of the time and the mama osprey seems to be responsible for grooming and feeding the nestling.
Sometimes I hear her talking in loud voice to the little one. School starts early! I witnessed such a teaching session earlier this week.
At the end of the session the youngster flexed his wings…probably dreaming of the wind carrying him out of the nest. One of these days he’ll be lucky. I’ll try to keep an eye on him and report on any new developments.
Have a wonderful weekend!
On assignment 🙂
Tiny
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Wonderful pictures tiny! What kind of camera do you use? Oh, I do hope you get pictures of the baby flying his first flight! Have a wonderful weekend my friend!
Thanks Jackie! These pics are taken with a smaller Canon (Powershot S3 IS that I can carry easily on my walks, no heavy lenses but an excellent 12X optical zoom). I too hope to be lucky in capturing his flight. We’ll see. Have a great weekend!
You do take good photos my friend. You also have a warm and good weekend 🙂
Great assignment, Tiny. And the photos are beautiful.
Yes this was a good assignment – apart from a small sunburn. Need to use the baby strength sun lotion on next assignment 🙂
😀
Love, love, love this! Your photos are so awesome, and your narrative is such fun!
Thanks Cyndi. I’m getting a bit familiar with the family now and they with me. The mother doesn’t get upset when I approach slowly…she knows by now that I’ll back off in time and that I’ll never cross over to the other side of the marsh next to their nest pole like the people with dogs did some time ago.
My fingers remain firmly crossed that you will capture the first flight! 🙂
I have to confess that I “spy” on the nest every morning from our terrace using our strongest binoculars…I just hope I’ll be at home and can make it there in time when the little one tries his wings. Odds probably less than 50/50 but sometimes we get lucky 🙂
Good luck Tiny!!
wow, i saw my first Great Blue Heron last summer, it landed on the same spot across from an inlet we we moored in, what a magnificent bird. great captures Tiny.
Thanks! I feel so privileged in having the nature reserve and a beautiful beach close by with lots of birds to observe.
I’m green with envy…! How truly wonderful to have such neighbours.. I’ll keep a lookout for the update on the osprey young one.. Too, too cute. 😉
Thanks Carolyn! I’m planning to go an a new “assignment” on Wednesday and hope to see new developments.