And a heron too…
The last photo tells you the Heron looks like it is wondering if this was a good time to arrive. Last year, I was the first of my birding group to see the Great Egret in mid March. I saw it at this very spot. Generally they show up the last ten days of April. Also last year, I photographed both big birds April 1.
More snow came on April 15, so the birds had a rough beginning to their season. We can only hope this year fares a bit better.
Nature and Wildlife Pics 
Great shots Donna, it is difficult to take white against white with digital photos, you have done well to show the brightness of bird against ice.
Thank you. I did have exposure compensation added though to make the whites, white.
I guess spring can be a bit unpredictable. I just saw a photo from Banff where a grizzly had just come out of hibernation, to a winter storm in April! The poor thing:)
Love your pictures of the egret, a beautiful bird. And the heron too off course, don’t want it to feel left out! 🙂
Thank you. Could the bear not go back in? Like the groundhog? Just kidding. I do feel for those birds and mammals that hit the bad weather. It is not like living in the wild is without other difficulties too.
Hehe… I didn’t stop to ask him! 🙂 But I am sure he was ok in that thick layer of fur.
They are good survivors, at least I hope so. I have sadly heard of warblers getting caught in a May snow storm and they did not do well at all.We are getting the odd snow but it melts quickly. overall I think we are getting an early spring here in central Alberta.
Warblers come in three waves all at different times. This ensures their survival. The early ones take a risk, but get the reward of territory and mates if the weather lets them live.
I echo the previous comment: Spring can be unpredictable!
I think our spring the last two years is finally getting back to what is normal for our area. When I had tulips in early March in 2012, that was more like in PA than WNY.
These are beautiful shots, Donna! I find it fascinating to see our ‘regulars’, the Great Egret and GBH, strolling about in such a cold environment. How’s the fishing for them up there?
Thank you. I always think about from where they came. I always wonder why they leave? I would not leave FL. Fishing is great for them. Our area is big for the competitive fishing industry. The river is filled with salmon and trout. We have good bass fishing too. I bet the birds like what is on the menu, I know I do even though I don’t eat the river fish. Too toxic, that there are limits on what a human should consume, so imagine the birds????
Great early spring shots and birds. I can feel the chill.
It is getting a bit more tolerable here. The ice will be with us for a while as the ice boom has yet to be lifted. Then we get giant icebergs floating down the river. If I remember, I will photograph that. Poor birds. It does block open water.
All I see on the ice around here are geese. You certainly trumped that with those beautiful shots.
Thanks Lyle. We have our share of geese too. I have yet to get to see the thousands of snow geese. Going on Thursday maybe.
They’re beautiful in the cold setting, and they are surely awaiting warmer days!
I know they are wishing. I can only believe they hope the warm weather comes much faster.
How beautiful!
Thanks, Bernice.
Wow! That’s something you don’t (or at least I dont) see often!
I bet you are glad not to see the ice. Poor birds. The fish hide under the ice and only the diving ducks get fed. I did not see one wading bird wading for food.
Beautiful work, Donna.
Thanks Pat.
I am seeing birds pairing all over including herons starting to nest…amazing given our late start to spring.
That is wonderful.
Such beauty – such elegance! 🙂