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Helen Betts | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Birds at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Birds at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall

After Tim spotted a great blue heron in an artificial lake in Constitution Gardens on the National Mall the other day, we went down there on Wednesday armed with cameras to try to find him again. Not only did we find the heron, but also several cormorants and countless geese and ducks. It was pretty amazing to see the heron and cormorants on the mall as there aren’t any large fish in the water, but they seemed to make do with hunting tiny prey.

Needless to say, we took a lot of pictures over the course of a couple of hours, so this gallery will be ongoing for a while.
Me and my friend the great blue heron
Me and my friend the great blue heron
Great blue heron with catch
Great blue heron with catch
That eye
That eye
Rapt attention
Rapt attention
Intent
Intent
The strike
The strike
Success!
Success!
Another point of view
Another point of view
In the shadow of the Washington Monument
In the shadow of the Washington Monument
Showing off that iridescent color
Showing off that iridescent color
Catching the light
Catching the light
The gaggle
The gaggle
Cormorant capades: Racing ahead (1/4)
Cormorant capades: Racing ahead (1/4)
Cormorant capades: Resurfacing (2/4)
Cormorant capades: Resurfacing (2/4)
Cormorant capades: Taking a breather (3/4)
Cormorant capades: Taking a breather (3/4)
Cormorant capades: Air dry (4/4)
Cormorant capades: Air dry (4/4)
The strike (1/8)
The strike (1/8)
The commotion (2/8)
The commotion (2/8)
The catch (3/8)
The catch (3/8)
The meal (4/8)
The meal (4/8)
Deep 'dive' (5/8)
Deep 'dive' (5/8)
The snack (6/8)
The snack (6/8)
Positioning (7/8)
Positioning (7/8)
Down the gullet (8/8)
Down the gullet (8/8)
Not his best side
Not his best side
Surrounded
Surrounded
The contortionist
The contortionist
Showing off
Showing off
Keeping an eye out
Keeping an eye out
Classic
Classic
Portrait of a heron
Portrait of a heron
The struggle
The struggle
Bonanza
Bonanza
Ready to pounce
Ready to pounce
Portrait of a cormorant
Portrait of a cormorant
The pose
The pose
Living in reflections of grandeur
Living in reflections of grandeur
Just chillin'
Just chillin'
Salad
Salad
Fall on the Mall
Fall on the Mall
Postscript: Heading back to the lake
Postscript: Heading back to the lake
Postscript: Heron contemplating his next move
Postscript: Heron contemplating his next move
Postscript: Apparition of the heron
Postscript: Apparition of the heron
Postscript: Out of its element
Postscript: Out of its element
Bad hair day
Bad hair day
Taking in the sun
Taking in the sun
Dramatic pose
Dramatic pose
Coming and going
Coming and going
If you've got an itch, scratch it!
If you've got an itch, scratch it!
The search
The search
Buddies
Buddies
The glare
The glare
The heron made it into The Washington Post!
The heron made it into The Washington Post!
The entertainers
The entertainers
The celebrity heron
The celebrity heron
Sitting pretty
Sitting pretty
Soldiering on
Soldiering on
The survivor
The survivor
Me and the heron
Me and the heron
More than just a leaf
More than just a leaf
Down the hatch
Down the hatch
Was it something I said?
Was it something I said?
Behind the curtain
Behind the curtain
The ballerina
The ballerina
The punk heron
The punk heron
Chilly cormorant
Chilly cormorant
Face-on
Face-on
The gang
The gang
The model mallard
The model mallard
The beautiful Mrs. Mallard
The beautiful Mrs. Mallard
Tired of pictures?
Tired of pictures?
Opposing forces
Opposing forces
Peaceful coexistence
Peaceful coexistence
Cormorant reflected
Cormorant reflected
The exuberant cormorant
The exuberant cormorant
Reflections with heron
Reflections with heron
On the lookout
On the lookout
Unimpressed
Unimpressed
The ultimate survivor
The ultimate survivor
Shovelers shoveling
Shovelers shoveling
Pretty feathers
Pretty feathers
Up for air
Up for air
The well-coiffed heron
The well-coiffed heron
Mr. and Mrs. Gadwall
Mr. and Mrs. Gadwall
Playing hard to get (reloaded)
Playing hard to get (reloaded)
Awkward shoveler moment
Awkward shoveler moment
Heron reflections
Heron reflections
The 'shovel'
The 'shovel'
Getting ready to move on
Getting ready to move on
Movin' on
Movin' on
The duck with the blue bill
The duck with the blue bill
Posing shoveler
Posing shoveler
Mr. and Mrs. Wigeon
Mr. and Mrs. Wigeon
Sunbathing mallard
Sunbathing mallard
Interloper
Interloper
Different take on the shoveler
Different take on the shoveler
Last cormorant standing
Last cormorant standing
The takeover
The takeover
The gosling
The gosling
The goose family
The goose family
Following in mom's footsteps
Following in mom's footsteps
Giving me the eye
Giving me the eye
Surprise visitor
Surprise visitor
Watchful eye
Watchful eye
Odd gosling out
Odd gosling out
The setting
The setting
Change of pace
Change of pace
Gettin' outta there
Gettin' outta there
Cold shoulder
Cold shoulder
Reflections
Reflections
Making a statement
Making a statement
Watchful eye
Watchful eye
The duck family
The duck family
Bird bath
Bird bath
National Park Service to the rescue!
National Park Service to the rescue!
Mallard detail
Mallard detail
He's baack!
He's baack!
Heron reflected
Heron reflected
Face-off
Face-off
Bothersome ducks!
Bothersome ducks!
The referee
The referee
Headless heron?
Headless heron?
Just like old times
Just like old times
The standout
The standout
New kid on the block
New kid on the block
Mirror image
Mirror image
Always on the lookout
Always on the lookout
'Pesky ducks...'
'Pesky ducks...'
Beware of the water
Beware of the water
The standoff
The standoff
Just chillin'
Just chillin'
Beware of those scary ducks!
Beware of those scary ducks!
Ruffled feathers
Ruffled feathers
Hint of green
Hint of green
Mallard in triplicate
Mallard in triplicate
Dog alert!
Dog alert!
The obsessive coot
The obsessive coot
On a mission
On a mission
The backward glance
The backward glance
Two jays in a tree
Two jays in a tree
Stereotypical
Stereotypical
He's pretty, and he knows it
He's pretty, and he knows it
The contortionist
The contortionist
One-legged gathering
One-legged gathering
Kiss and make up for the new year
Kiss and make up for the new year
The flapper look
The flapper look
The cormorants are back!
The cormorants are back!
'Hmmm...'
'Hmmm...'
Keeping an eye out
Keeping an eye out
Taking in the sun
Taking in the sun
‘It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman’?
‘It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman’?
Lunch is about to be served
Lunch is about to be served
Extended family
Extended family
Salvaged ring-necked duck
Salvaged ring-necked duck
The deep diver
The deep diver
Shoveler giving us the eye
Shoveler giving us the eye
Poised for a deep dive
Poised for a deep dive
The shoveler sub
The shoveler sub
It's only just the beginning
It's only just the beginning
Even seagulls can be majestic!
Even seagulls can be majestic!
Opposites attract
Opposites attract
Those spectacular heads
Those spectacular heads
Sea change
Sea change
Begging for a picture
Begging for a picture
The security detail
The security detail
The sheer size of it all
The sheer size of it all
Preening interrupted
Preening interrupted
'Splish splash...'
'Splish splash...'
Bird-watcher
Bird-watcher
Two shovelers shoveling
Two shovelers shoveling
Synchronized
Synchronized
Just chillin'
Just chillin'
Calm after the storm
Calm after the storm
He’s baaack
He’s baaack
Fearless
Fearless
Learning to forage
Learning to forage
Potato chip fan
Potato chip fan
The posing blue jay
The posing blue jay
Welcome back
Welcome back
High up
High up
Learning the ropes
Learning the ropes
White duck
White duck
Wary eye
Wary eye
Blackbird that loved the camera
Blackbird that loved the camera
Face to face with a juvenile starling
Face to face with a juvenile starling
Busy blue jay
Busy blue jay
‘You lookin’ at me?’
‘You lookin’ at me?’
The pretty Mrs. Blackbird
The pretty Mrs. Blackbird
The posing sparrow
The posing sparrow
Contemplative mallard
Contemplative mallard
Not impressed
Not impressed
Food frenzy
Food frenzy
True colors
True colors
The encounter
The encounter
Just too cute to ignore
Just too cute to ignore
Synchronized
Synchronized
The unwelcome visitor
The unwelcome visitor
Dejected
Dejected
Mirror image
Mirror image
Taking a snooze
Taking a snooze
Me and my reflection
Me and my reflection
In autumn waters
In autumn waters
Shoveling in fall reflections
Shoveling in fall reflections
Blue-eye
Blue-eye
The poetic mallard
The poetic mallard
Reveling in the color
Reveling in the color
The classic pose
The classic pose
Showing off
Showing off
The Mallards out for a ‘stroll’
The Mallards out for a ‘stroll’
Here’s shovelin’ at you, kid
Here’s shovelin’ at you, kid
Mallard enjoying the colors
Mallard enjoying the colors
The golden Mrs. Mallard
The golden Mrs. Mallard
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard
The lone bird
The lone bird
In the reflection of the Washington Monument
In the reflection of the Washington Monument
Red-winged blackbird at the gardens
Red-winged blackbird at the gardens
Three may be company, but here it’s a crowd
Three may be company, but here it’s a crowd
New residents at the gardens
New residents at the gardens
The light-keeper
The light-keeper
Unexpected waterbird
Unexpected waterbird
The fearless blackbird
The fearless blackbird
Learning the ropes
Learning the ropes
Unlikely buddies
Unlikely buddies
Diving lessons
Diving lessons
Bill to bill
Bill to bill
Waiting patiently
Waiting patiently
She’s got her wings full
She’s got her wings full
Still at it
Still at it
The ‘waterbird’
The ‘waterbird’
The pause that refreshes
The pause that refreshes
The blackbird that keeps on keeping on
The blackbird that keeps on keeping on
Taking a break from the kids
Taking a break from the kids
The poser
The poser
‘I’m pretty, and I know it’
‘I’m pretty, and I know it’
Showing off
Showing off
‘Splish splash, I was taking a bath’
‘Splish splash, I was taking a bath’
Mother and baby
Mother and baby
Sitting pretty
Sitting pretty
Mother mallard and the kids
Mother mallard and the kids
He’s back!
He’s back!
Heron in hiding
Heron in hiding
Togetherness
Togetherness
That long neck comes in handy
That long neck comes in handy
The Mallards
The Mallards
Keeping an eye on us
Keeping an eye on us
Diversion
Diversion
The bath
The bath
One of the few
One of the few
New kid on the block
New kid on the block
Just the usual
Just the usual
Showboat
Showboat
Dripping northern shoveler
Dripping northern shoveler
Coming in for a landing
Coming in for a landing
Gull through a weeping willow
Gull through a weeping willow
Unprepared for a portrait
Unprepared for a portrait
Hiding in plain sight
Hiding in plain sight
Snoozing duck
Snoozing duck
Family time
Family time
Mother mallard and the kids
Mother mallard and the kids
Hiding in the bushes
Hiding in the bushes
Calling Mrs. Blackbird
Calling Mrs. Blackbird
Goose lines
Goose lines
Taking a break from the kids
Taking a break from the kids
Sparrow on a hot day
Sparrow on a hot day
Cormorant on a mission
Cormorant on a mission
Taking a dip
Taking a dip
Out of the ordinary
Out of the ordinary
Reliable visitor
Reliable visitor
Cruising
Cruising
Duck yoga
Duck yoga
Shoveler in fall waters
Shoveler in fall waters
‘Mirror, mirror’
‘Mirror, mirror’
Splish splash…
Splish splash…
Grand finale
Grand finale
In formation
In formation
Cruising along
Cruising along
Showing off
Showing off
The finale
The finale
Memories of fall
Memories of fall
Coming in for a landing
Coming in for a landing
The intent shoveler
The intent shoveler
Enjoying the sunlight
Enjoying the sunlight
Cormorant crowd at Constitution Gardens
Cormorant crowd at Constitution Gardens
Member of the cormorant convention
Member of the cormorant convention
The showoff
The showoff
Washington Monument reflections
Washington Monument reflections
The eye of the cormorant
The eye of the cormorant
Robin at Constitution Gardens
Robin at Constitution Gardens
Home territory
Home territory
Getting some air time
Getting some air time
Showing off
Showing off
And then he was gone
And then he was gone
Red-winged blackbird with something to say
Red-winged blackbird with something to say
Oblivious
Oblivious
‘Ho hum’
‘Ho hum’
Learning the ropes (and the uncertain future of the gardens)
Learning the ropes (and the uncertain future of the gardens)
Not so quiet blackbird
Not so quiet blackbird
A resident we can count on
A resident we can count on
Of all times not to have a ‘real’ camera with me!
Of all times not to have a ‘real’ camera with me!
Our new friend at the gardens
Our new friend at the gardens
Caught in the act
Caught in the act
Showing off his colors
Showing off his colors
Showing off that wing
Showing off that wing
Unusual visitor at the gardens
Unusual visitor at the gardens
Flying leap
Flying leap
Splish splash
Splish splash
Lesson learned: To see the heron, don’t bring a camera!
Lesson learned: To see the heron, don’t bring a camera!
‘Don’t feed the wildlife’
‘Don’t feed the wildlife’
Following the food (guys)
Following the food (guys)
Splash landing
Splash landing
Showing off (and drying off)
Showing off (and drying off)
Posed
Posed
Considerate heron
Considerate heron
‘Aaack!’
‘Aaack!’
Observing
Observing
‘We’ve got (all) our eyes on you’
‘We’ve got (all) our eyes on you’
Opposites attract
Opposites attract
Great blue heron, again
Great blue heron, again
Crossing paths
Crossing paths
One last look at the young heron
One last look at the young heron
The great egret saga: First sighting (1/6)
The great egret saga: First sighting (1/6)
The great egret saga: Posing (2/6)
The great egret saga: Posing (2/6)
‘I wonder what he’s looking at...’ (3/6)
‘I wonder what he’s looking at...’ (3/6)
The great egret saga: Hard to reach places (4/6)
The great egret saga: Hard to reach places (4/6)
The great egret saga: On its way (5/6)
The great egret saga: On its way (5/6)
The great egret saga: Departure (6/6)
The great egret saga: Departure (6/6)
Variety
Variety
Solitude
Solitude
Reflections in green
Reflections in green
Curious sparrow
Curious sparrow
Taking a break
Taking a break