Great Blue Heron at Dawn

Early this morning I walked down to the Ashuelot River Park in Keene, NH in the cool morning air. After walking through the entire park and not seeing a single bird, I finally spotted a great blue heron fishing at the base of the small dam near West Street. Before I could setup my camera, the heron flew a short distance over to a muddy patch closer to the West Street bridge. The heron then began to work through a series of different poses, almost as if it was practicing an early morning yoga routine.

My favorite photo of the series is one in which the heron’s beak is open, as if gasping at its own reflection on the surface of the river. I have done the same on many a morning, looking into the mirror for the first time just after leaving my bed.

The heron seemed to combine moments of hunting for breakfast with other moments of fastidious cleaning, twisting its neck into a variety of different contortions.

After watching for about twenty minutes, I packed up my gear to return home and begin my last workday of the week. It was good to get out for a little shutter therapy before starting my day.