This is my entry for the Reflection Hunters Contest Round 21.
A walk around the lake in the morning always means beautiful scenes and some work for my camera. Although the lighting is not perfect around this time of the day it is the best time to watch the birds as they get ready for their day.
Pond herons aren't exactly the most beautiful birds, but they are what they are and I love them like I love all creatures (well mostly all except snakes and scorpions) This pond heron was right in the middle of the lake perched on probably a twig, I was thrilled to get a clear picture of this bird and the reflection with a lens not so suitable for bird photography.
While looking at the image later I remember thinking that the refection was much stronger and better looking than the real thing itself. You may not agree with me, but those were my exact thoughts at that time and I still think its true. In this image above reality blends with the reflection so well that it's hard to figure out where the real thing stops and where the reflections begins.
When I had walked to the half way point around the lake I stopped at the bridge and looked in, the sun was just coming up. That moment was magical, the sun spread gold dust all over the lake over grown with weeds.The golden shimmer all around made even the reflection of the weeds look amazing.
The far away Monoon longifolium (monkey cone) tree looked perfect in the water. I remember standing there for a while gazing in pure admiration and my husband had to drag me away so we could continue our walk. I miss the long walks around the lake, its been a year and half now and the park is now closed to walkers and visitors alike due to the pandemic.
Another lone pond heron probably doing his morning meditation before starting the day I guess. These pond herons seem to be lazier than the other water bird, I always find them standing and sleeping somewhere. This guy/gal was all bunched up and sleepily on this cold, misty morning.
This pond heron was taking a good look at the walkers as they passed him by. He may have also be wondering why one woman was so interested in him while the rest of the world walked past him without even giving him a second glance.
The rather plain, stripped log on which the heron was perched seemed to give the otherwise dull looking bird a better backdrop. This helped me look at him from a different light and study his color and back feathers properly. I always find them in the water or flying around and that doesn't give me a good look at these birds.
This is an image of a clumsy pond heron which fell off the log just as I was trying to take a picture of his reflection. He didn't make a splash as the water hyacinths have almost taken over that side of the lake where he was catching some shellfishes for his mid morning snack. I was thrilled to get a better view of the bird nonetheless.
A pond heron in flight. The bird looks so different in flight as its wings when spread out looks almost white, its only its back that gives it away.
All images used here are the sole property of 
