No Peace for the Great Blue

Saturday morning my brother-in-law, who was visiting, spotted something flying through the Hollow behind our house. 

The Great Blue Heron had returned, thanks to a substantial rainfall on Thursday and Friday that left a few feet of water in the ponds.

Big Blue sat patiently on a branch above the small pond while I snapped photo after photo after photo...

...and continued sitting still even when I got my tripod out and snapped photo after photo after photo...

(They all look like this one, so I'll spare you the others.)

I spotted Blue again later wading in a pond. 

This time he wasn't so patient.

I'm pretty sure I heard him muttering "This used to be such a peaceful neighborhood...." as he took off in search of seclusion.

Heron Stalking

I have a tripod set up in my living room right now.

For years a Great Blue Heron has swooped through the Hollow, never getting close or staying visible long enough for me to swing my camera up and focus.

But for some reason, one is now gracing us with his presence almost every day, choosing to nap right outside the back door. 

Well, sort of...  

In these photos, he's resting at the top of some trees, but since our house is built into a hill, it's in line with my French doors.

And my camera.

Thank you, Mr. Heron!

P.S. Please pray for my dad who was taken to the hospital this afternoon with another suspected stroke. They ran some tests and admitted him, but I'm merely at the mercy of texted updates since I'm not there, so I'm not sure what his status is at this time. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers for my sweet Daddy! He would love to see this heron in person!