I was pleased to watch a Great Blue Heron take flight at Richardson Point State Park today. It is graceful in flight as it floats by in a sea of air with slow, deep beats of its wings. It doesn't appear to be in a big hurry, and it sometimes squawks in protest.

The heron is described as 'majestic' by All About Birds http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/id): "Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher."