Sweet One
The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
An always lovely and vibrant Tricolored Heron (Louisiana Heron) peeks out from amid the vegetation of our protected wetlands. Here’s to a new year of saving and protecting more space for these sweet and beautiful creatures!
Tricolored Heron
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FeyGirl
Serenity Spell 
This reminds me I wanted to thank you…a friend messaged me a photo while she was in Florida, it was a bird, and while I’m quite well-versed in Pac NW species, I’m a little rusty outside of that range. But, because you’ve posted such fabulous photos of Tricolored Herons before, I know instantly what it was – she was most impressed. I bet you didn’t know the full range of the educational value of your blog but it really is informative. Thanks.
Ah, how WONDERFUL! Thanks so very much for relaying that story to me — you made my day / week / month. 🙂 Truly, most excellent. Who knew? Heh, I bet your friend was duly impressed!
The other photo she sent was of an ibis, but I couldn’t ID the species…I’ll be watching closely for ibis photos in 2013. Still, she was amazed that I could ID the two birds from a tiny phone photo.
Happy New Year!
Oooooh. Have I done ibis yet? I have many in my queue, and I believe an ibis is in there! So funny!
I love the fact that you could ID those images… over-the-moon thrilled and touched. Happy happy early New Year to you, too! 🙂
I just got a text from your tri-guy … he wants to know why you chose *that* quote from the Emerson guy. After all (he texted), he is certainly no COMMON bird! He’s special!
I agree. I use a photo of a Tricolored Heron as my desktop image.
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Keep up the GREAT work, ma’am. You have already made my New Year happier. I hope to run into you one of these hikes – I’ll be the fella in the goofy-looking hat facing the wrong way when the flock of spoonbills take off. 🙂
Hahahah!!! I really hope I get to meet you…. I’ll be the one facing the other way, as a herd of deer is behind me (this has happened more than once), or a lovely hawk feasts on a meal at my heels. And I stand, oblivious.
I’m now a lone hiker, sigh! Ah well, it’s the way of the world. But a good thing? With my horrific…and I do mean horrific…sense of direction, my family gave me a compass for Christmas! Hahaha! They’re quite concerned. Understandably. 🙂
You’re SO right about that quote!! I LOVE it, but the Tricoloreds are DEFINITELY no common bird! Far too lovely and sweet. But I just had to use it… It’s been sitting in my stash ‘o quotes for far too long.
Drop me an email (listed in my profile) and we will hook up for a joint jaunt one of these days. It’s much more fun to miss a great shot when someone else is there to hear your scream of agony! 🙂 I missed a whole FAMILY of Pileated Woodpeckers today (two parents, two kiddies), and the only creature to hear my woeful wail was the Anhinga I was shooting at the time.
You don’t suppose there is a Limpkin out there somewhere with a blog about us? The Wail of The Everglades Bird Watchers.
Hahahah! That sounds wonderful!! Will do, for sure.
Oh nooooo! I do believe we have very similar experiences. Once I was obsessed with a butterfly (Nabokov’s butterfly)… Lovely, but honestly. They’re quite common. And 5 feet away from me? A bobcat hunting. Literally, FIVE FEET. I missed the entire opportunity. To date, I’ve only gotten a bobcat’s butt, because of this kind of ridiculousness!!
Have you heard of Hickory Hammock? I never had… I may try to visit it tomorrow — found it through a hiking Meet-up, which I’ve never tried.
Heh heh … I feel your pain about the bobcat – I’m usually shooting an Ibis (or tying my shoe) when really cool stuff happens. The other day, I was busy emptying a stone out of my shoe when SPLASH WHAM a big ole gator (successfully) ambushed a duck upstream. Shortly afterward, another WHAM (as I smacked myself on the forehead).
Hickory Hammock? I believe it is up the Kissimmee, just south of Sebring. That puts it out of my normal range.
Hahah! Oh yes… I’ve missed many a wonderful gator-action shot, too — for unbelievably banal events. I have a shocking amount of action sequences, in my HEAD.
Sigh, I just discovered Hickory Hammock is about 2 hours north of me — oops! A bit out of my range as well for tomorrow. Ah well. I shall find something a wee bit closer to kick off the new year… 🙂
Great quote from”Ralph” , and beautiful heron! He does look very sweet too (the heron, not Ralph). 🙂
Ah, Ralph always does it for me! Such a guy. 🙂
I love this guy’s (the heron, the heron!) oh-so-sweet expression. He was so shy, too — perhaps a young adult, still a bit unsure of himself.
Nice capture! Love the big wading birds!
Thanks so very much! As another commenter stated, I especially love this guy’s sweet expression. 🙂
Beautiful – Happy Friday:)
Thank you, and Happy happy Friday to you, too!! 🙂
Beautiful photo! What an expression he has.
Thanks so much! And, you nailed it… I adore his expression! That’s what captivated me about this guy. 🙂
Amazing! I was just walking in one of Seattle’s park forests (rare old-growth) wandering around admiring at all the beauty in the wintery, muddy forest debris that most people would want to “clean up”. To me, it all looks like art. Glad to know some of you share my enthusiasm for simple things! Thanks for sharing the lovely photo!
Oh, MOST definitely!!! You are not alone… You’re in an especially beautiful area, and can find wonder in so many places (I used to live in the PNW!). But I find beauty and divinity in the tiniest things in Nature. Everywhere. I’m entertained at every turn, in every nook and cranny. It’s glorious. 🙂
Fantastic shot of this beautiful tricolored heron! Love seeing the always entertaining tris!
Thanks so very much!! They’re completely photogenic, ALWAYS! 🙂
Oh, he’s very handsome! A lovely shot.
Isn’t he a sweetheart? I fell in love instantly. 🙂
Thanks so very much!!!
I’ve been able to only enjoy 2 in the wild, so I love it when you share your tri-color discoveries on your adventures. Absolutely love this photo, it’s such an adorable look on his face. Hope all is well with you and Happy New Year !
Aw, thanks so much! He’s such a sweetheart… A young adult, for sure. So tentative, very shy and sweet.
Big XOXOs to you — and Happy early New Year’s!!!
Great photo! Let’s hope and work for a good year for wildlife all over our planet!
Thanks so much!! DEFINITELY, yes…. Here’s to a new year of leaps and bounds of helping the earth and its wonderful inhabitants. 🙂
That’s beautiful bird posing for you.
He really is! I think, despite his adult coloration, he was young. Very tentative in his hunting habits, and still quite small. But that face, oh my!
Wow! That’s one beautiful bird! Thanks! 🙂
Thanks so much! They really are incredibly colorful and sweet herons….
Reblogged this on 2012 Spirit In Action and commented:
If you have not yet checked out Serenity Spell, please do. This is a blog that will remind Floridians of why it is we put up with 9 months of sweat and mosquitoes;-) and make everyone elsewhere want to come here, if only for a visit. I guarantee you will learn something new, and see something beautiful that lightens your day!
A most miraculous shot!
Aw, thanks so very much! Very good timing for this sweet young one… 🙂
He certainly does look sweet – a little shy and self-effacing, as though he’s not quite sure we’ll approve of him. I approve, heartily – not only of him, but of you, your blog, and your efforts on behalf of these wonderful creatures!
VERY well said! It’s exactly the vibe this little one was putting off… And even though he has adult coloration, it was obvious he was young (in size and hunting habits). Tentative.
Thanks so very much for your kind words… And Happy New Year to you!
always transfixed by their eyes!!!
truly! and this young one (at least judging by size, not coloring) was hunting… such focus. it’s amazing to watch!
happy new year! looking forward to seeing more your wonderful shots in 2013.
Happy New Year to you, too!!
Thanks so very much — you’re so kind. I need to get a bit more on the ball, heheh!! 🙂
A beautiful reminder of why we protect wild lands and a wonderful New Year’s message. May you have a happy and productive New Year bringing the beauty of the wilderness into our homes.
How very kind…. What a beautiful, wonderful message! THANKS so very much!!
I hope you had a peaceful entry into the New Year, as well. 🙂