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mnhtnbb

(32,143 posts)
Sat Nov 4, 2023, 04:24 PM Nov 2023

Sharing the pond and ignoring each other

I was sitting out on my covered porch, enjoying the very late and very bright afternoon sun--without my camera--when I noticed the Great Blue Heron standing in the water. The pond itself was so dark that I couldn't really see if there were geese--which are usually there--or ducks until they started swimming from the far side of the pond towards the heron. Couldn't help myself, had to come inside and get the camera just to see if I could get any kind of shot without scaring them away. The geese swam in a line--single file-- towards the heron, which then turned to the left, away from them. The geese turned around and swam slowly back across the pond. This is the cropped shot--edited to grayscale--to counteract the really bright sun and dark pond.






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Sharing the pond and ignoring each other (Original Post) mnhtnbb Nov 2023 OP
It's tough to get close to the herons. I accidentally snuck up on one floating the river one time. I came around brewens Nov 2023 #1
I haven't heard a heron honk! mnhtnbb Nov 2023 #7
It's a deeper lower honk than the geese. Canada geese are thick around here. n/t brewens Nov 2023 #13
The photo is great and the crop is super! Thank you for sharing it, my dear mnhtnbb! CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2023 #2
I really enjoy watching mnhtnbb Nov 2023 #8
Glad you grabbed your camera! Good shot and telling the context. Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2023 #3
Thanks! mnhtnbb Nov 2023 #9
FINE pic, and great description! elleng Nov 2023 #4
Thanks! mnhtnbb Nov 2023 #10
Great shot, mnhtnbb! Diamond_Dog Nov 2023 #5
I do enjoy watching them! mnhtnbb Nov 2023 #11
Splendid photo! The ripples and reflections drew me in for a closer look. Mousetoescamper Nov 2023 #6
Thanks! mnhtnbb Nov 2023 #12
 

brewens

(15,359 posts)
1. It's tough to get close to the herons. I accidentally snuck up on one floating the river one time. I came around
Sat Nov 4, 2023, 04:44 PM
Nov 2023

a bend and must have been in its blind spot for a few seconds. I was surprised by the loud honking sound it made taking off. I'd never heard one before.

mnhtnbb

(32,143 posts)
7. I haven't heard a heron honk!
Sat Nov 4, 2023, 10:33 PM
Nov 2023

The geese fly right over me sometimes when I'm out in my courtyard and their honking is LOUD!

CaliforniaPeggy

(152,477 posts)
2. The photo is great and the crop is super! Thank you for sharing it, my dear mnhtnbb!
Sat Nov 4, 2023, 05:01 PM
Nov 2023

They're behaving as though they were snubbing each other!

mnhtnbb

(32,143 posts)
8. I really enjoy watching
Sat Nov 4, 2023, 10:37 PM
Nov 2023

birds interact. I really wish I'd come in and gotten my camera when I first saw the heron. It might have been possible to get a shot then as the line of geese swam towards the heron and it turned away as if to say it didn't give a damn about this attempted confrontation.

Diamond_Dog

(35,199 posts)
5. Great shot, mnhtnbb!
Sat Nov 4, 2023, 07:53 PM
Nov 2023

Birds are such interesting creatures, especially how they interact (or don’t interact) with each other. You did a great job with a very tricky subject.

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