In hot pursuit, this Great Blue Heron banks and accelerates low over the water
Sometimes you think you’ve missed the “perfect shot” when, really, you’ve already captured it. Today, vacation day #3, I was visiting Hinckley Lake. I’d not been to the lake in some time and thought I should check in. I came across a Great Blue Heron fishing in the shallows. Just as I got into position to shoot some stills of the big bird, it leaped into the air! I began firing the shutter. I don’t think the bird took flight because of me… I believe it was pursuing another heron fishing around the shoreline from where I was standing. Soon the two birds were charging out over the lake, one after the other and I got what I’d hoped would be the best pictures of the day. I was mistaken. As I was photographing the first bird early in its pursuit, I recorded a couple of images that later surprised me. In my favorite, the heron is banking whilst flying so low to the lake surface a wingtip dragged briefly in the water kicking up a wake! In the second shot (technically made earlier) the Great Blue is stretched out in flight while below, shore birds work for a living on a sandbar. All-in-all a great morning at the lake.
Pursuit begins as the huge bird takes off, over innocent bystanders below
PhotonStopper 
Beautifully done….the reflections are fantastic!!
I live in Hinckley in Leicestershire in the UK! Lovely shot!
We don’t seem to be able to come up with original names for towns here in the states. Well, that’s not true … I can think of several. Anyway, check out Hinckley, Ohio, USA on Google Maps; it’s a tiny dot on the map and has as its claim to fame “Buzzard Day.” That’s a day in spring when Turkey Vultures supposedly first appear in the skies over the area. The vultures can’t read calendars, of course, so they show up when they show up… usually before Buzzard Day. Best wishes! — JG
Brilliant! I will twin my Hinckley with yours!! I will follow you avidly from now on!
Awesome captures!