Heron Sitings - Lacamas Heritage Trail, Camas WA
The Lacamas Heritage Trail runs along Lacamas Creek and the western shore of Lacamas Lake. The mostly gravel pathway winds through a canopy of old growth forest giving trail-goers a glimpse of wildlife, including Great Blue Herons.
Yesterday morning, a cool mist kept some of the regulars at home. It gave those of us on the trail a better chance to happen upon a special moment. This feathered fisherman didn’t seem concerned when I stopped to snap a photo with my iPhone.
Great Blue Heron - Habits and Habitat
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird commonly found near the shores of open water and wetlands. It has a head to tail length of 36 to 54 inches, and a wingspan of 66 - 79 inches, a height of 45 - 54 inches, and weighs approximately 4.7 to 5.5 pounds.
The primary food for a great blue heron is small fish, although they are known to feed on a wide variety including shrimp, crabs, rodents and other small mammals and birds. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole.
If you’ve ever seen them in flight, it's a real treat. They tuck their heads into an s-shape, and with long legs trailing behind, their wings-beats are very slow, deep, and deliberate as they make their way through the air. Often, as they take flight, you’ll hear their guttural croaks echo across the landscape.
This is not my video, but it's a wonderful capture of the Great Blue Heron's distinctive voice. It was shot near Cottonwood Beach in Washougal, Washington.
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