For several years I've observed a nesting pair of great blue herons in a forest preserve only about fifteen minutes away. I've seen them in state parks in other areas and states as well. But great photos of these birds continually prove to be elusive. They're too far away, there's foliage and tree branches in the way, I don't have the right lens, and the most common: they see me before I see them and take to the skies out of photo range. To my elation, a trip to Gifford Pinchot State Park in Pennsylvania proved otherwise. There had been a couple of great blue herons in and out of view throughout the morning and early afternoon, but they were never in the mood to be approached and photographed. Take one step off the path towards them and off they would fly. 

     I saw this heron fly into some vegetation at the edge of a lake from several hundred feet away. The trail I was walking on curved in such a way (shaped something like a "C") that dense trees gave me cover until I was about 50 feet away from the heron. I would like brag that I caught him by surprise because he chose to freeze rather than fly which is unusual in my experience with herons and egrets. Whether I surprised him or not I was able to cut those 50 feet in half and get this wonderful, simple shot of a great blue heron:

Almost the next step I took he decided that I had pushed my luck and with a loud call and a great swoosh of his wings he was off. I have never been so close to a great blue heron before and it was incredible to see the full breadth of his outstretched wings from so near. This shot of his departure gives some nice visual closure to the story. Despite the strength of his wings he seems peaceful as he glides off to be a part of someone else's vacation memories.