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Saturday, February 26, 2011

And Stood There Amazed

Every morning a Great Blue Heron flies onto our farm. He (or she) clocks in back at the big pond, works all day, clocks out in the evening and heads home. They look kind of pterodactyl-y and sound, well, kind of pterodactyl-y and he frequently calls out as he leaves. This is a highlight of my day and why there is an odd looking bird flying across our web banner.

We've looked and looked and studied maps, asked around... We've yet to find where our heron lives, but they are everywhere. Almost every pond in Harrison County can claim its own pterodactyl. They are hiding around here somewhere and surely (but maybe not) on the nearby Licking River.

Saint Tim, rapidly becoming the "old man of the river", has formulated a new theory and is planning a spring paddle to explore an area we've yet to look. In the meantime, look what I found on the way to pick up Marcel the other day. This is near the border of Scott and Woodford Counties.









Carefully hidden from the main road.



A rookery.



I crossed the creek at the Weisenberger Mill, drove up the hill and there it was. Just what we've been looking for. Maybe finding rookeries is like finding four leaf clovers. Now that I've found my first...



I love old Sycamore trees, beautiful throughout the winter without their leaves. Click to biggify. There are Canada Geese down below enjoying the recent flooding. A bird paradise. And a nice way to spend a Saturday morning.



The south fork of the Elkhorn Creek. The Heron rookery is around the bend (look to the upper left).

15 comments:

Eleanor P said...

...and now I know what a rookery looks like...thank you. I've seen one with vultures. I'll keep looking for one with herons. Now that I know!

flowerweaver said...

Very cool!

Nancy K. said...

Is that just off your property? It looks like it's by the fence around your pasture...

That had to be an awesome find! And how wonderful that you have a camera that can capture it from a distance that doesn't disturb the birds...

VERY cool!

Alice said...

Amazing capture of a Heron's home in Harrison county.... they're not hiding any more!

Anchor Cottage said...

Thank you for Saturday's gift. I love the pictures.

Christine said...

Well I'll be darned, I never noticed that bird in the blog header before. Are you sure you didn't just add that today?

My parents have them nesting at their place. Every once in awhile they'll come shooting up from the pond and fly really close to the windows of the house. Freaks me out every time. Just the shadow they cast can be scary.

Carolina Trekker said...

wow...your pictures are wonderful. I always get excited when I see one of these. The Rookery is amazing. Wouldn't it be fun to be around it when those babies hatch and are exercising their wings on the sides of all those nests.

thecrazysheeplady said...

No, that's about a 30 minute drive away. Still no Harrison county sightings. Most of the fences around here look like ours, Kentucky traditional 4 plank :-).

Jody said...

In the small town where I live there is a fast flowing river where the Blue Heron stands in the shallower areas catching fish. Those legs must be stronger than they look because he can stand there a long time without losing his footing.

Jennie C said...

That is soooo cool....now I know what to look for myself :)

kenleighacres.com said...

...and now I know what to look for! We have a heron that visits our pond from time to time. I love seeing him/her out the door. I wonder how far they travel?

Loco Lindy said...

That's really neat, I didn't realize that they group their nests together like that. Now I'll be watching for them, too!

DayPhoto said...

Lovely!!!!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Ed said...

Great shots, they should hang around as long as the food source is plentiful...:-)

Karen B. said...

Thanks for the great pictures- I've always thought the Great Blues looked like pterodactyls, too! I can't wait to see them again this spring. Love the photos!