The top deck of the skinny tree has been occupied by a Great Blue Heron for several weeks. Some “nestoration” had been completed when I took this at the end of December.
Great Blue Heron Standing on Nest, December 29, 2020
Compare the nest to this image from December 14, before this nest site was claimed and a few orange leaves were still hanging on.
Back in October I posted images of a Bald Eagle Pair. After taking those photographs I look in that tree every time I pass by and three weeks ago I was rewarded with one half of the pair on the very same branch.
At the darkest point of winter the end of my favorite pond where much of the Great Blue Heron nesting activity is in shadows while the Herons are still working at attracting mates.
Great Blue Heron Calling For A Mate
The White Ibis wasn’t impressed with the song and decided to move on.
Great Blue Heron Calling For A Mate
The GBH remained hopeful, long feathers up.
Great Blue Heron Waiting For A Mate
I moved a bit further on, and the ritual began again.
Another nesting season has begun for the Great Blue Herons and this male was on a mission to find some nest material.
Great Blue Heron Flying to Pond Edge
You can see from looking at the stick selection on the ground around him that he should have considered going a bit further from the nest.
Great Blue Heron Looking for Nest Material
He eventually found a small stick.
Great Blue Heron Flying With Stick
The route to his nest in the skinny tree was into the sun so this isn’t much of an image but gives you the idea of the action. And that the skinny tree is still standing.