Great blue herons are permanent residents of the Edmonds marsh and nearby
marina, so I don't get excited about photographing them unless one does?
something unusual or photogenic.?Both the unusual and photogenic?occured
yesterday (Thursday 1-13-11) when I shot a series of photos of one floating in
the marsh.

The recent flooding of the marsh due to rain and melting snow has created small
waterways between areas of high ground. The heron floated across one of the
waterways from one patch of high ground to another.? When I first saw it,?the
heron was standing vertically in water much deeper than any heron I have ever
seen before.? The heron then lay horizontal in the water?like a duck.? I had
never?seen this before either, and I wondered?if the heron were sick or injured.
?

Aftrer a few minutes, the heron floated across the waterway from one?patch of
high ground to another.? I know it was floating and not wading due to its lack
of body?movement plus?the fact that it was moving backwards and sideways with
the current.?? After it reached the?opposite?patch of high ground, it waded back
across the waterway?to near?where it had started.? I?know it was wading because
of its body?movement and the fact that it was moving forward against the
current.


When it nearly reached high ground, it paused?to take a bath by dipping its head
and neck underwater and shaking its body.??After it reached the "shoreline" of
the patch of high ground,??it?remained in the water and dipped its bill into the
water as though it were hunting.

I have seen many herons?wading in the marsh, but this was the first time I
have?seen one floating.?? Has anyone else?seen?herons float?


Bill Anderson. Edmonds, WA. ?