The Great Blue Heron is a fun bird to photograph. The are large birds, making them an easier target to capture in flight.
Interestingly, despite their size they only weigh 5 – 6 lbs, in large part due to their hollow bones, as with all birds.
They have more patience than I, as they fish day and night and are able to snatch a swimming fish out of the water in a heartbeat.
For some truly inspiring, stunning blue heron shots, check out these photographer taken by a Photographer Marcos Rodriguez…
Just East of Alpine nearly to the New Mexico border is a 75 acre beautiful lake at close to 8,000 feet elevation. It’s home to huge herds of elk, turkey, and a variety of waterfowl.
Campers, bicyclists, fishermen, four-wheelers, and hunters flock to the respite. It’s just off Highway 191, otherwise known as the Coronado Trail National Scenic Byway, which follows the trail of the explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who in 1540 sought the fabled “Seven Cities of Cibola”.
Wildflowers abound during the summer following monsoon rains, attracting birds, butterflies and other flying pollenators.
The Wildlife area provides a riparian area enjoyed by osprey, bald eagle, weasels, and tree frogs.
Whatever your allure, Luna Lake offers a little bit of everything for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and nature.
North of Pinetop / Lakeside is an area known as Greens Peak. At over 10,000 ft, it gets plenty of snow in the winter, and is lush green in the summer. Hidden back along a well marked dirt road is one of our favorite places to camp, Carnero Lake.
I used to leave it’s actual name out of my posts, as it’s ‘our’ place. But it seems it has been discovered and become a bit over populated for our taste. Nonetheless, it remains a weedy haven for ducks and coots, and the occasional eagle and osprey.
For us, it’s a peaceful respite and place to relax and enjoy nature in all it’s glory.
Luna Lake is nearly on the border of New Mexico in the upper Northeastern part of Arizona, east of Alpine.
This time of year the grassy foreground is littered with wildflowers and water fowl.
It was a beautiful scenic spot, not particularly crowded. As we left early in the morning, we were delighted to find a herd of baby elk being shepherded by doting mom’s trying to teach them how to jump the fence. We did not want to disturb them, so didn’t stay long, but enjoyed the show.
We travel around the state quite a bit enjoying what nature shows us. We are always delighted by what we find, and humbled by what I can (or can’t) capture..
A year wouldn’t be complete without my wildlife photos that I strive so hard to capture. This year has been especially unique with some terrific ‘up-close-and-personal’ shots of a wide variety of wildlife, including bison, antelope, and big horn sheep. Picking the top shots is the hard part… what an awesome problem to have. : )
1. Antelope Greens Peak Loop near Show Low
2. Blue Heron Carneros Lake
3. Big Horn Sheep Greer, AZ
4. Mule Deer Grand Canyon South Rim
5. Mule Deer Grand Canyon North Rim
6. Bison Raymond Wilderness Area
7. Great White Egrets Happy Jack, AZ
8. Baby White Tail Deer Fawn Happy Jack, AZ
9. Bull Elk Happy Jack, AZ
10. Pygmy Owl Happy Jack, AZ
My www.krittersmenu.com has a category, It’s What’s For Dinner. In the terms of my foodie blog… it’s what we have for dinner and recipes and ideas worthy of sharing.
On this photography blog, it’s not so much what we had for dinner… but what our fair weathered friends did, making for a photographic story of nature and the food chain. Case in point, this blue heron in search of a meal.
The hunt
The target identified
The catch
Gulp!
It’s What’s for Dinner.
kritterspix 