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Mr. Personality

Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way. —John Muir

I adore the Tricolored (or Louisiana) Herons: They’re colorful and spirited characters of our wetlands and swamps. This fellow landed beside me on a recent walk, and proceeded to hack up a recent meal — something had obviously gotten stuck in that long, elegant throat of his. All was well eventually, but not after a 20-minute show.

{As always, please click on the image for expansion!}

Tricolored (Louisiana) Heron, Florida Wetlands: I am so lovely and elegant, yes?

Excusey, I seem to have something in my throat….

Haaaaaaaaaaack!

Shake it off! Shake it off!

64 Comments Post a comment
  1. hahahahah…..
    this s such funny and fabulous, sp. the first photo; as if (he) is pausing for a painter,, and YOU titled it rightly>>>Mr Personality… hahahaahh
    YOUr photos really made my day, thanks

    September 7, 2012
    • Hee, that’s wonderful — I’m so glad! This guy was so entertaining for me, once I realized he was OK. And they’re just so lovely. Such a character!

      September 7, 2012
      • 🙂 🙂 🙂

        September 7, 2012
  2. Very nicely done!!! It is always so much fun to write little snip-its under pictures. You have put a smile on my face. Thank you!!

    September 7, 2012
    • Ah, I’m so glad! This guy was so entertaining for me (once I realized he was OK of course) — and they’re just so lovely. Such a character!

      September 7, 2012
  3. cat hair-ball, heron haaaacccckkk-huccck?!

    love the last photo–esp because his hair-don’t is just like mine!

    September 7, 2012
    • Haaaaa!!! Isn’t that the greatest?!

      His hair is VERY reminiscent of mine as well…. SO funny!!! 🙂

      September 8, 2012
      • I like your UN-self-conscious hairdo, Miss. A woman after my own heart!

        September 8, 2012
      • :)!!

        September 10, 2012
  4. good morning again. this showed up this a.m. and I thought you’d enjoy. –L.

    (I saw your reply to my post; I’m having a tough time talking about the topic….)

    September 7, 2012
  5. Beaufiful images! 🙂

    September 7, 2012
    • Thanks so much! I was lucky to have such a close encounter…. 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  6. You must have been worried sick, no pun intended.

    September 7, 2012
    • Haaaaa! TOTALLY! I was watching him carefully, but then as I saw him preening, I gave up the concern. Such a show. 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  7. Enjoyed these shots a lot! Super nice detail!! Guess the mating season is over, he’s got his yellow lore back and the ruby eyes are beginning to fade to yellow again!! No more buff aigrettes present either!! Your sub-titles are adorable!!

    September 7, 2012
    • Aw, thanks so much! I was reciting them in my head as I was watching him, hee! Most definitely, no more mating season — this was a shot from last week! 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  8. Pam #

    What a beautiful fellow! Love the eyes!

    September 7, 2012
    • He’s gorgeous, I adore these guys! I think one of my favorite aspects of the images is the eye in the last image…

      September 8, 2012
  9. HI again, wish You are having a good time,, i have nominated YOU to the sunshine award 🙂
    kindly visit my blog and respond ,, cant wait to see your answers,, thanks in advance,,, have a nice time

    September 7, 2012
    • You’re so very kind — MANY thanks for the award nomination! And congratulations to you, on your own award!! 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  10. Love how sharp your photos are… soooo crisp 🙂

    September 7, 2012
    • Thanks so much! It definitely helps being so close…. Very lucky in that regard!

      September 8, 2012
      • Oh Nice! I thought you were using a telephoto with perhaps an extender.

        September 8, 2012
      • There’s definitely a telephoto involved — but he was still within feet of me. 🙂

        September 10, 2012
  11. You must get really close to these guys ! Beautiful shots!

    September 7, 2012
    • I’m sooo lucky to have these close encounters — sometimes a little too close for comfort. Those beaks are sharp, heeeeh! 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  12. I like his lines.

    September 7, 2012
    • Hahhah, thanks so much! They were playing in my head as I was watching him (albeit a bit worriedly) for those 20 minutes. 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  13. Love the “hack” shot. What a tongue!

    September 7, 2012
    • I have sooooo many of his tongue — close-ups! What a long time it took to choose. Boy, did he give me a long time to shoot that. I was worried, but realized what was happening. 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  14. Love the last …shake it off.

    September 8, 2012
    • Hee, that’s my favorite as well! Love the hair. Tussled.

      September 8, 2012
  15. Stunning photographs. I just adore Herons – so particularly love this!

    September 8, 2012
    • Ah, thank you! I love these guys, too…. And I was thrilled to have another close encounter. Odd, but funny. 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  16. narhvalur #

    I must once again express my admiration over your bird pics, birds are soo difficúlt!

    September 8, 2012
    • You’re so kind — thank you very much! I was very fortunate to have another close encounter. 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  17. Wow – these shots are amazing.

    September 8, 2012
    • Thanks so much! It was a wonderful and lucky moment. 🙂

      September 8, 2012
  18. The yellow stockings! OMG! Malvolio!

    September 8, 2012
    • Heeeeee!!! So true! You’re so funny. He was SUCH a character.

      September 8, 2012
  19. He’s even beautiful while he’s gagging.

    September 8, 2012
  20. Gorgeous photos, and your comments are hilarious. What a stunner this heron is! Your photos are just incredible!

    September 10, 2012
    • Aw, thanks so much! Those comments were replaying in my noggin as I was watching his little show… Such a character. 🙂

      September 10, 2012
  21. Hinterlandvillagebug #

    Fabulous is all I can say! Stunning photographs.

    September 12, 2012
    • Thanks so much! I was lucky that he landed so close to me, to put on such a show… 🙂

      September 12, 2012
  22. I had never seen a tri-colored heron before. What a beautiful bird, beautifully photographed. I’m glad it was able to clear its throat.

    September 12, 2012
    • Aren’t they gorgeous? They have such lovely colorations… And the juveniles and breeding tri-coloreds are even more brilliant (I think I have a few images of both on the Tri-colored heron page, under “Wildlife”).

      I was actually a bit worried about his hacking, until I realized he’d be OK. It was quite a show, though. 🙂

      September 13, 2012
  23. Terrific series of photos!

    September 12, 2012
    • Thanks so much! I adore these guys… And this particular fellow put on quite the show. 🙂

      September 13, 2012
  24. Super portraits of the always beautiful tri! Great personality really does come through with these images!

    September 13, 2012
    • Thanks so much — I was fortunate he wasn’t perturbed at my close presence during “the show.” 🙂

      September 13, 2012
  25. Amazing photos! One can almost touch him! 🙂

    September 13, 2012
    • ALMOST!! I was a few feet away from where he landed (I jumped!). Such a character… Thanks so much! 🙂

      September 15, 2012
  26. Gorgeous photos of a stunning bird! Pretty funny behavior to witness too. Awesome!

    September 14, 2012
    • Heh, thanks so much! I was thrilled he landed so close to me, and then the show! As soon as I realized he would be fine, I was highly entertained. 🙂

      September 15, 2012
  27. Thanks for stopping by my blog. these shots are wonderful. I am fascinated by the great blue herons that live at my lake.

    October 2, 2012
    • Your art is beautiful! And thanks so much… I have many images of our Great Blues — they’re just magnificent creatures!

      October 3, 2012
  28. gregjoder #

    Beautiful photos! Really nice captures =0)

    October 5, 2012
    • Thanks so very much! I loved this guy — once I realized he was safe and good-to-go, that is. 🙂

      October 18, 2012

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