Earlier this month I decided to go hiking at Payne’s Prairie State Park. It was the warmest day that week, but it was still a little on the chilly side. There were still quite a few birds out and about, including this little blue heron (Egretta caerulea). It was perched on a branch in some underbrush along Lake Wauberg. It was sitting kind of hunched up and somewhat fluffed, so I’m sure it was feeling cold. It wasn’t really doing much and was hardly even looking around, so I took a few shots and then concentrated my attentions on a nearby anhinga that was much more engaging. After the anhinga left, I took a few more shots of the little blue and happened to catch this one with the cool wind pushing up his feathers from behind. It seems he didn’t like that wind much, because shortly thereafter he left, too.

Please tell us your thoughts or ask a question.