Same Place, Same Time ~ Going to the Dance!
It was May 25th, 2014 when we witnessed two Great Blue Herons at Queens Lake performing a mating ritual dance around each other. The moment was such a unique experience for two relatively new birders that we came home and I wrote a blog about it. Then I painted the scene and entitled it The Dance. I wrote that it was a special moment that I might never witness again. I was wrong!
The Dance by William R. Beebe, 14 x 16, oil on board, $2800
We haven’t been birding much lately. I’ve been busy trying to finish up a portrait and starting a Charleston painting. Not to mention, planning on a move and having that fall through. A few days ago I said to Jen, “Would you like to go to Queens Lake and go birding?”
When we arrived there were 6 to 8 Blue Herons scattered around the river. There were also a few Great White Egrets and a Snowy Egret enjoying easy pickings at low tide. I focused on the Blue Heron closest to us. After about 5 minutes it became spooked and flew up river, landing right next to a rather large Blue. That’s when it happened all over again!!!
It was almost the exact same time, just one day later in the month, two years later at the exact same location, Queens Lake, VA. Was it the same two herons??? After all they are territorial.
We watched in amazement as they raised their feathers and strutted around each other with their beaks pointed toward the heavens. This time they were even more active, occasionally taking to the air as if to fly away, only to return and pick up where they left off.
Fortunately, this time I had my new Canon zoom lens and the distance wasn’t as challenging as last time. My photos turned out pretty well all things considered and I thought I’d share them with you.
I love the artistic nature of their dance, like a beautiful ballet. It was as if it was choreographed in advance. It was a graceful, elegant dance with moments of separation as if to symbolize a breakup.
Thank you for reading my journal and following my art and photography. The next blog will be about something painting related, so please check back soon. Thanks again!
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion...”
What's next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe