Great Blue Heron

Two Great Blue Herons eating Pike

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Had the opportunity to shoot two different Great Blue Herons enjoying a shore side lunch this week.  I have never seen this before a Heron eating a Pike, but in less that one week it happened on two separate occasions.

Great Blue Herons now have my attention to say the least with how they hunt and how effective they are.  They can really do a number on a fishery.  I thought they really only targeted smaller fish and smaller amphibians.  But that is not the case.

Great Blue Heron

Down the hatch it goes, another Pike meets his maker.

Great Blue Heron

Blue Heron trying to figure out how to slurp down a pike.

Mangled Fly Stickers

Fish “whats for dinner” – Pic of the Day

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Captured this Great Blue Heron with a little bullhead snack. Trying to do my best Kevin Feenstra imitation. Kevin has always captured the best Blue Heron eating pictures.  While this is not to his standards I’ll take it, for my first try.

All you can eat bullheads today for Mr. Blue Heron. #getoutside #puremichigan #allucaneat

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Turtle and Eagle Food

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Just a few miles from my house in Northern Michigan their is an eagle cam.  I had never thought of turtle being a food source for Eagles.  But when you have the pressure of feeding 2 kids, I guess you feed them what you can find.  Turtle ends up escaping the nest, but had to be a long ways to find ground.

 

http://www.carbontv.com/cams/carbontv-eagle-cam/turtle-escapes-from-the-eagles-nest

 

Birds Eye View – Pic of the Day

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Female Common Goldeneye or Whistler

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Common Goldeneyes are frequently called “Whistlers” because the wind whistles through their wings when they fly.
Common Goldeneye or

Bald Eagle

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Looking back through pictures for end of the year reports that I have to hand in, for the USFS.  I use photo’s to remind me of days spent on the water.  This Bald Eagle let me take about 50-60 photo’s of him/her as he/she flew from tree to tree.  Not too bad for a 200mm lens, so many days that I want a 500 or 600 prime.  It’s nice too keep on dreaming, and saving the pennies for a $10,000 lens.

I’m sure over the next could days more random photo’s will appear as single digit temps will keep me inside.  Will have some video’s coming soon, waiting on music and final authorizations.

Bald eagle soaring along the Manistee River in Northern Michigan.

Picture of the Day – Hunting with a Blue Heron

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Heron hunting along the Manistee River in search of any food, as November doesn't have as much food running around as summer. I'm sure this blue heron is starving.

Snapping Turtle Day

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Not that I really drive up and down the roads looking for snapping turtles.  But yesterday was by far the strangest day.  Saw 4 different snapping turtles all on the road or side of the road.  Did witness one laying eggs, must of been the day to get that done.  Quick chance to take a couple down low pictures of this guy.

snapping turtle

Baltimore Oriole

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One of favorite birds of the early summer has soon up, the Baltimore Oriole.  This means as I talked before in a previous blog  that sulphurs are going to hatch soon.  Mother nature has certain relationships and this over the years has proven true.  But until I see my first sulphur (guessing this weekend) I’ll just enjoy by bright orange friends.

baltimore oriole