I must have gone several years without a decent heron picture. I would see them around but never close and never accessible. Then finally things seemed to take a turn for the better. A few times I would get one flying by pretty close, and in other instances, like this one, they would actually come in and land right in front of me. Crazy right? But that’s how it goes with wildlife. You put in your time. Do your best to get in the right places where you’re odds might be better…and eventually the payoff will come. I think every outdoor photographer must feel this way to some degree…otherwise they would never leave the house.
This heron was actually the second one to come in close. Perhaps the first one drew this one in…and while I hid somewhat behind some shoreline grasses, this bird arrived in grand style…at least for a heron.