Tag: Great Blue Heron

Seven-Years Ago (08-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 6: Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve.

I drove across the state arriving in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge before the sun went down. The first stop was Black Point Wildlife Drive. Observed the following birds: Roseate Spoonbill, Greater Yellowlegs, White Ibis, American Coot, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and Snowy Egret. I then proceeded to Biolab Road. On the way I spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk. On Biolab Road I observed a Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and Wood Stork.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Roseate Spoonbill. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Greater Yellowlegs. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
White Ibis. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
American Coot. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Northern Pintail and Blue-winged Teal. Black Point Drive, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Snowy Egret. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Red-shouldered Hawk. Courtenay Highway, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/800 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Red-shouldered Hawk. Courtenay Highway, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon 1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 800, 180 mm, f’2.8, 1/640 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Egret. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 720, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Wood Storkd. Biolab Road, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens (ISO 100, 300 mm, f’2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)

Seven-Years Ago (08-January-2013) — Florida

Gone to See America. January 2013 Florida Road Trip. Day 6: Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg.

Morning drive through Fort DeSoto county park. There were at least six Ospreys flying and with two couples building their nests. Also, a Blue Jay, Common Loon, and Great Blue Heron.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Osprey in flight at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon N1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Osprey flying with material for a nest at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon N1V2 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Osprey building a nest in a tree at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon N1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Osprey building a nest on a pole and platform at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon N1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron hunting at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon N1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Common Loon in the water at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon N1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
Blue Jay in the morning sun at Fort DeSoto park in St. Petersburg, Florida. Image taken with a Nikon N1V2 camera and 180 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 160, 180 mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Thursday (26-December-2019) — Florida

Gone to See Florida — 2019 Road Trip.

Boxer Day. After the sun rose, we went looking for birds at Fort De Soto Park. We found a Great Blue Heron fishing, and some Osprey Nests. One of the male Osprey was flying around with the big fish he caught to show off to his mate.


Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the following images.



Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the following images.



Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the following images.



Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the following images.



Click on the above image to access my PhotoShelter gallery with the following images.


Daily Electric Energy Used (52.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.8 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. Overall a net deficit of 20.4 kWh. Most of the hydroponic gardens were off or only on for fewer hours. Also, the thermostat for the Geothermal heater and hybrid heat pump hot water heater were set for vacation mode.

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Eleven-Years Ago (19-January-2008) — New Jersey

Winter Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Ducks and Great Blue Heron at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. The ducks usually leave the pond for somewhere more quiet when the Canada Geese show up. I had not seen a Heron here before in the winter.

Great Blue Heron and Mallards. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron and Mallards. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (28-November-2014) — Florida

Gone to See Florida Fall 2014 Road Trip. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Great Blue Heron appearing to walk on water as it comes in for a landing along Blackpoint Wildlife Drive. I’ve also included  slide shows with some of the other birds present that day: Anhinga, Black Vulture, Double-breasted Cormorant, Great Egret, Hawk, Osprey (with a fish), Tricolored Heron, and Turkey Vulture. Note that some of the Vulture images are graphic.

Great Blue Heron Walking on Water. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/7, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron Walking on Water. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 500 mm, f/7, 1/4000 sec). (David J Mathre)










Individual images in the slideshows can be viewed here.