It’s a beautiful photo! I see a great blue heron frequently near my apartment, but I never am able to get such a detailed picture.
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A model, stylish, runway ready. I'd wear that cape in a heart beat, no notes.
Thanks for the eyebrows-rising comment, let’s try to get some useful infos going: this picture was taken in Bayern, Germany, where herons migrate for winter (blue areas in the picture)

I assume “DC metro area” means North America? No native grey herons there I think, but local? Almost all American citizens descend from people who self-imported themselves in NA, but I would surely call them local ;)
Huh? Maybe I'm missing the joke. Great blue herons are native to the DC area IIRC.
This isn't there, but herons are too cool.
OC

I like the tidiness of the feathers on its back - the Grey Herons round here (Reading, UK) tend to scruffiness!
Very nice feather detail. Wading birds are quite fun to watch hunt. Their attack pose and strike is majestic.
Had no idea how big they are, despite seeing a few dozen at a distance, until we scared one up and he flew across the canoe bow.
Incredible photo of those back feathers.
Phenomenal picture! Almost had me thinking it was AI, the plumage is so perfect

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