"INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER"

Great Blue Heron - 6 Photos

Great Blue Herons are highly territorial which is probably why when a second heron landed in a marsh close to a heron who had obviously claimed that area, there was the unmistakable squawk and a chase ensued. 

There was no ground contact only a pursuit in the air.

When you have two Great Blue Herons flying straight towards you, it's best to make a decision of who you are going to follow and who is going to provide the best photography opportunities. As the herons were of similar sizes, it was hard to distinguish from the photos, who was who but in the end, I believe Photo #1 & Photo #2 are of the "challenger" with the upward escape manoeuvre.

Photo #3 through Photo #6 are most likely the incumbent, with the tucked up aggressive posture of a pursuer. 

An extremely quick exit of the challenger and an eventual return to the marsh by the incumbent.

The prehistoric sounding croak and the sharp puffed up features - a definite throw back to the bird's dinosaur origins. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6