This juvenile, fledgling Great Blue Heron alighted on its nesting island at day's end just as the rising moon came into view.

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I call this image Heron Moon and it is probably my most serendipitous capture. I was leaving the nesting site for the day as it was getting too dark when I sensed the whoosh of wings going by. When I turned the young Great Blue Heron had landed at the top of the nearest nesting island. Right next to it was the moon which seemed to have magically appeared out of nowhere. One minute I was leaving and no moon and the next I turn and there it is right next to the heron providing a most magical and evocative scene. It was naturally getting dark and the monotone treatment seemed to best capture the mood of the scene. Ah yes, Heron Moon.

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Size: 5175px × 3450px
Location: Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Florida
Photo credit: © Judy Lovell-Janthina Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bird, black, blue, bw, chick, clouds, cormorants, evocative, fledgling, florida, great, heron, heronry, juvenile, magical, monotone, mood, moon, moonrise, natural, nature, nesting, nests, night, portrait, rise, rookery, serendipity, wakodahatchee, wetland, wetlands, white, wild, young