Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Marsh Boardwalk, Fort Worth, TX, October 23, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens with a 2.0x teleconverter; 966 mm; ISO-2000; f/14; 1/500 sec.

This page is for the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). This species is common at most waterways I visit. They are quite wary but will frequently let you get fairly close to them before being disturbed, as long as you are calm. I don’t like disturbing the animals I photograph, so I have learned to watch for cues that I am getting too close, then I will back off. The April 25, 2021 photo is my first photographic evidence of this bird. The best photograph I have taken of the Great Blue Heron to date (above) was from November 13, 2021 at the Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX.

The following photographs are the best representative images from different dates and locations than my species representative example.

Great Blue Heron wading in the marsh among some grasses. Five ducks are swimming in the background.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Marsh Boardwalk, Fort Worth, TX, April 25, 2021
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-1600; f/14; 1/1600 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on a perch with green water plants and trees in the background.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Marsh Boardwalk, Fort Worth, TX, August 1, 2021
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 450 mm; ISO-3200; f/9; 1/640 sec.
Great Blue Heron flying overhead against a sky full of puffy clouds.
Great Blue Heron, Mineral Wells State Park, Mineral Wells, TX, September 5, 2021
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-100; f/9; 1/500 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on a perch.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Marsh Boardwalk, Fort Worth, TX, October 23, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-800; f/7.1; 1/500 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on a downed tree limb hunched over ready to strike its prey.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Marsh Boardwalk, Fort Worth, TX, October 30, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens and 2.0x Teleconverter; 1000 mm; ISO-4000; f/14; 1/1600 sec.
Great blue heron flying across the creek over some trees.
Great Blue Heron, Clear Fort of the Trinity River and Hulen St., Fort Worth, TX, December 4, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 24-70 mm lens; 70 mm; ISO-800; f/4.5; 1/2500 sec.
Great Blue Heron landing on a creek bank.
Great Blue Heron, Clear Fort of the Trinity River and University Drive, Fort Worth, TX December 4, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 24-70 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-400; f/5.6; 1/60 sec.
Great Blue Heron flying overhead against a slightly overcast sky with some distant trees below.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Cross Timbers Trail footbridge, Fort Worth, TX, December 11, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-640; f/7.1; 1/2500 sec.
Great Blue Heron perched on a tree limb with branches of a smaller tree in front partially obscuring it.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve River Road, Fort Worth, TX, December 30, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-1250; f/6.3; 1/2000 sec.
Great Blue Heron on the bank of the lake partially visible through some grass.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Lone Point, Fort Worth, TX, January 2, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-800; f/6.3; 1/2500 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on an island near some tall grasses.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve River Road, Fort Worth, TX, January 15, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-320; f/7.1; 1/500 sec.
Great Blue Heron perched at the top of a dead tree.
Great Blue Heron, Cleburne State Park, Cleburne ,TX, January 29, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-800; f/6.3; 1/4000 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing in shallow water near a point of land. Two Double-crested Cormorants are preening themselves while standing on a log in the water.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Cross Timbers Trail footbridge, Fort Worth, TX, February 6, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-800; f/7.1; 1/3200 sec.
Great Blue Heron head and neck near some tree branches.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, February 13, 2022
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-100; f/10; 1/250 sec.
Great Blue Heron eating a fairly large bass while standing in water near some grasses and several Green-winged Teal.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve Marsh Boardwalk, Fort Worth, TX, February 20, 2022
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-400; f/7.1; 1/2000 sec.
Great Blue Heron on the edge of a small pond near the shore that has moderate-sized rocks.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, March 12, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-500; f/6.3; 1/1000 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on a rocky shore near the water.
Great Blue Heron, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, March 26, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 500 mm; ISO-400; f/8; 1/800 sec.
Two Great Blue Herons on their next high in a tree.
Great Blue Heron, Clear Fork Trinity River and Bellaire, Fort Worth, TX, April 3, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 500 mm; ISO-320; f/11; 1/250 sec.

Great Blue Heron flying low over the pond bank.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, April 15, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 300 mm; ISO-1000; f/5.6; 1/1000 sec.
Great Blue Heron in a pond hunting fish.
Great Blue Heron, Botanical Gardens, Fort Worth, TX, April 9, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 500 mm; ISO-250; f/7.1; 1/200 sec.

Great Blue Heron wading belly deep in a pond near the shore.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, April 30, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-12,800; f/10; 1/320 sec.
Great Blue Heron waiting in the shallows near the beach of a lake. There are some shrubs between the bird and the camera, mostly to the left of the bird.
Great Blue Heron, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, May 21, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-2000; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron flying over a lake with the far shoreline and trees in the background.
Great Blue Heron, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, May 28, 2022
EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-2000; f/10; 1/2000 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on a log in the water posing with its wing partially out. He looks like a person with their hands on their hips.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX, June 11, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron on a tree branch getting ready to fly.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, June 18, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-6400; f/11; 1/3200 sec.
Great Blue Heron flying low and dragging its feet in the water.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX, June 25, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron wading in the shallow water and looking to the side.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX, July 24, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-4000; f/11; 1/500 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing in shallow water and twisting its head about 180 degrees so the top if its head is looking down at the water.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX, July 30, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-3200; f/10; 1/320 sec.
Great Blue Heron hunting from the bank of a pond.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, August 27, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-5000; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
Great Blue Heron perched on the top of a large tree and is looking over its left shoulder.
Great Blue Heron, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, September 4, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing in shallow water next to a rocky point.
Great Blue Heron, Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX, September 10, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-125; f/10; 1/320 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on a tree limb that is sticking out of the water in a creek.
Great Blue Heron, Sequoyah NWR, Vian, OK, September 12, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-4000; f/11; 1/250 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on the edge of the shore looking to the side.
Great Blue Heron, North Holiday Park Benbrook, TX, September 24, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret riding the strong winds and hovering just over the water.
Great Blue Heron and Great Egret, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, October 15, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/1250 sec.
Great Blue Heron coming in for a landing on the water in the face of a strong headwind.
Great Blue Heron, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, October 15, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/10; 1/1250 sec.
Great Blue Heron walking on the beach on the far side of the lake. The position of the sun makes it mostly back-lit.
Great Blue Heron, Black Mesa State Park, Kenton, Ok, October 19, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on the shoreline of creek between the water and the grassy area. The bird's reflection is fairly clear on the water.
Great Blue Heron, Black Mesa State Park, Kenton, Ok, October 21, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron flying low over the grassland between lakes.
Great Blue Heron, Bitter Lake NWR, Roswell, NM, November 9, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron in some water grasses and stretching its neck forward looking for food.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, December 11, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 420 mm; ISO-2500; f/9; 1/320 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing tail-feather deep in the water near the pond edge.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, December 17, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-2500; f/10; 1/640 sec.
Great Blue Heron walking near the shore while hunting.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Center, Colleyville, TX, March 11, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-12,800; f/10; 1/125 sec.
Great Blue Heron wading near the far shore.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX, April 1, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 2.0x Teleconverter; 1000 mm; ISO-1000; f/14; 1/640 sec.
Great Blue Heron taking a step as it wades in the shallow water.
Great Blue Heron, San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, CA, June 18, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-12,800; f/10; 1/1600 sec.
Close up of a Great Blue Heron with its mouth wide open.
Great Blue Heron, San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, CA, June 20, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing in the shallow water near a mostly submerged tree stump.
Great Blue Heron, Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX, September 2, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-320; f/11; 1/800 sec. -1 exposure bias.
Great Blue Heron walking in the shallow river.
Great Blue Heron, Constitution Park, Waynesboro, VA October 26, 2003
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700mm; ISO-3200; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing near some tall plants next to the water.
Great Blue Heron, Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL December 3, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700mm; ISO-320; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing in the shallow water next to a broken tree branch.
Great Blue Heron, Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX, December 26, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/10; 1/500 sec.
Great Blue Heron, Oak Point Park, Plano, TX, January 21, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-1600; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX, February 4, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-5000; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing in the shallow water with wings spread trying to keep cool.
Great Blue Heron, Mustang Island, Port Aransas, TX, February 22, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-800; f/10; 1/1000 sec. +1 Exposure Bias
Great Blue Heron standing on the muddy shore of an island near some plant life.
Great Blue Heron, Port Aransas, TX, February 23, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on some large rocks on the shore.
Great Blue Heron, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-1250; f/11; 1/1600 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing on some washed-up plant matter next to a beach.
Great Blue Heron, Port Aransas, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 500 mm; ISO-320; f/7.1; 1/1000 sec.
Great Blue Heron standing in the water near some water plants.
Great Blue Heron, Fort Worth Nature Preserve, Fort Worth, TX, August 21, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/11; 1/500 sec.
Great Blue Heron perched in a tree.
Great Blue Heron, Colleyville Nature Preserve, Colleyville, TX, May 21, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-2500; f/10; 1/400 sec. -0.7 exposure bias