Found across all but the farthest north reaches of North America, Great Blue Herons can be both beautiful and gangly.

In flight they are gorgeous with slow, steady flaps of their wings that create a massive wingspan six feet.  When they land or take off though, they don’t look quite as graceful.  With those pencil thin legs and long neck stretched, they have an almost prehistoric look to them.

No matter, they are pretty darned cool birds to watch and their blue plumage is gorgeous.

Here, a heron comes in for a landing at a slightly submerged island at Golden Ponds in Longmont, Colorado.  Scroll down to view the complete sequence as well as some images of this bird in flight.

Great Blue Heron flyby

Great Blue Heron flyby

Great Blue Heron flyby

Thought about landing then changed its mind

Great Blue Heron landing sequence - 1 of 7

Great Blue Heron landing sequence - 2 of 7

Great Blue Heron landing sequence - 3 of 7

Great Blue Heron landing sequence - 4 of 7

Great Blue Heron landing sequence - 5 of 7

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Great Blue Heron landing sequence - 7 of 7

This handsome bird was sitting high in a tree yesterday morning watching a pond as the sun came up behind it. The sunrise made for some pleasant, golden lighting.

Usually when I find these birds they are in shallow water so I was happy to capture one in a bit of a different spot. They have wingspans up to 7 feet across but only way 5 or 6 pounds due to their slender frame and hollow bones.

A male Great Blue Heron  gets fresh with his mate.  I am not entirely sure the female was particularly receptive to his overtures though.  😉   These large birds are very entertaining to watch, particularly during mating season when they are interacting like this and building their nests.  Taken March 21, 2105 at Belmar Park in Lakewood, Colorado.

I have never known these large birds to be territorial but it sure seemed like I found a pair that just did not want to get along last weekend. To my eye, one clearly felt this small pond was its to use and it did not care for the company of any other herons.

Every time another heron would come along, this one would take off in hot pursuit and chase the other off. At one point there was a definite squabble with a lot of vocalization between the pair – something I unfortunately failed to catch on camera.

The heron did not seem to mind the geese or other birds that were hanging out. In this image the guardian is returning to its preferred spot where it was maintaining watch on the water.

A Great Blue Heron stands in an irrigation ditch as the early morning sun reflects its shadow.  I was driving a rural road that I frequently go on looking for raptors.  Much to my surprise I found this beautiful bird hanging out.  Unfortunately it only gave me time for this one picture before it took off.  Taken in Adams County, Colorado.

Pterodactyl flyby.  No, not really, but I have a friend that says Great Blue Herons remind him of the prehistoric dinosaur and I can’t say that I entirely disagree.  😉

These birds have small bodies but massive wingspans that can reach over 6 feet wide.  Oftentimes found along shorelines of lakes and calm areas of rivers, Great Blue Herons are very adept at plucking fish from the waters.

I took this image at Belmar Park in Lakewood, Colorado, USA last month as the herons had just arrived for the season and were busy working on their nests.

Watching these large, gangly birds work on their nests is pretty entertaining. This one was dutifully going out, grabbing material and returning it to the nest. Its mate would then take it and place it in just the right spot.

Taken at Belmar Park in Lakewood, Colorado.

A rather interesting pose struck by this #heron last week. I’m not sure what it was doing but it sat like this for several minutes. Perhaps some heron zen? Yoga? 😉

Great Blue Herons are busy making their homes this spring along the Colorado Front Range. I visited a small rookery in Lakewood this morning and watched a half dozen or so of them as they went about their routine.

They were quite entertaining. One pair in particular was very busy on their nest with the male constantly fetching new material. When he brought it, the female would take it and place it where she felt best.

Scroll down for a bunch more images from today’s visit with these birds.

Great Blue Heron in the morning sun

Great Blue Heron flyby

Great Blue Herons work on their nest

Great Blue Heron flyby

The male heron tries to have some fun

The male heron tries to have some fun

The male heron tries to have some fun

Great Blue Heron flyby

Great Blue Heron flyby

Great Blue Heron flyby

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Leaving the nest

Great Blue Herons mating

Great Blue Herons mating

Great Blue Herons mating

Great Blue Herons mating

Great Blue Herons mating

Great Blue Herons mating

Great Blue Herons work on their nest

Great Blue Herons work on their nest

Great Blue Herons work on their nest

Great Blue Herons work on their nest

Great Blue Herons work on their nest

Taking flight

Meditating Great Blue Heron?

Great Blue Heron couple