As autumn fades and we approach winter it increasingly feels cold out there. And when it’s cold we tend to bundle up, putting on layers of clothing and larger coats. Viewing todays photograph I couldn’t help but imagine that’s exactly what this Great Blue Heron is doing, hunkered down in its Great Blue Coat, hoping the sun falling on it would provide some small amount of warmth.

Most of the Great Blue Herons in this area have flown south for the winter. But we tend to see some that stick around, either migrating later than most, or actually wintering over. I sometimes wonder how successful they are. I’ve seen them unable to fish in their typical watering holes when the top layer ices over. Is it the same herons each year wintering over, choosing to live here year round as so many Canada Geese do? Or are they just stragglers and weaker birds that stay because they can’t migrate? And if that’s the case how many make it through winter? It’s a bit of a sobering thought, but I suspect (and hope) some make it through fine, just as the geese do.

What’s the weather like right now in your part of the world? Feeling a chill in the air? Or is it actually quite warm where you are?