Herons remind me of a prehistoric creature. Once on the endangered list, I'm glad that they are gradually increasing in population, as they are truly an amazing bird. They stand frozen in one spot to hunt along the banks of a river or lake, patiently waiting for an unsuspecting mouse or frog to happen into their reach. When hunting, their movement is almost imperceptible, often just tilting their heads to increase the peripheral vision of their sharp eyesight. With lightning speed, they strike, grasping their prey in their huge beaks. A generous photographer on flicker gave me permission to paint this scene. I think this moody river scene matches the Blue Heron's sullen attitude. This is the largest canvas I've worked on so far: 24x30 Ann