Here we see a great blue heron fishing in the picturesque pools below the mouth of Patten Stream yesterday afternoon. This is where the tidal salt water of Patten Bay and the falling fresh water of the Stream mingle.
The tide was coming in and so were the fish, as this and another nearby great blue knew full well. The other bird at one point even seemed to be pointing out where the best spots were:
Great blue herons are among our sparest birds. At a distance, when they’re not showing off their magnificent wings, they sometimes appear to be whisps of smoke curling out of the water. Their wingspan can reach more than six and one-half feet and, when standing erect, they can be more than four and one-half feet tall. Yet, they weigh less than six pounds. (Images taken in Surry, Maine, on July 19, 2022.)