On a cool spring day, I took the time to watch a great blue heron fishing in a pond in Ann Arbor. I sat along the pond’s edge — it was a little muddy, but that was all right — to try to get eye-level with the bird for some photos. The heron caught several small fish, nothing big, mostly minnows. Great blue herons are patient fishers, and at times this large wader would freeze in place, observing, waiting for aquatic creatures to swim within striking range. I waited, as well, for photographic opportunities.
From time to time the heron would take short flights across the pond. I was able to capture this moment of the beautiful bird taking off, with an arching splash of water, as it headed to another fishing spot. The photo was taken with a Nikon Z9 with a 500mm lens.
I first got into photographing birds about eight years ago, and started with a basic camera kit. I was inspired to take up photography while walking the nature trails and taking in Kent Lake at Kensington Metropark in Milford, where I was amazed and enchanted by all the incredible birds we have here in Michigan — many that I had never even noticed until I started looking.
We’re so fortunate to have a mind-boggling variety of birds: our breeding birds in the spring and summer, the birds that pass through on the migratory bird flyway, and all the winter visitors from up north (if you’re in southern Michigan).
Jocelyn Anderson’s work can be seen on her website, jocelynandersonphotographyshop.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at jocelynandersonphotography. She will lead a photography workshop June 7-8 at Kensington Metropark, in Milford. It’s hosted by Michigan Audubon. Information about the workshop is available at michiganaudubon.org.
