Who walked by in the shallow water?

A Great Blue Heron, for sure.  One way to  tell a heron track is to check if  two of its three front toes are closer together. If you look closely, you will also see the imprint of its talons. We regularly see these ancient looking birds patiently fishing in the shallows. They move with deliberate speed. Which means they move slowly. This guy must have strolled along the edge of the lake, in Long Lake’s  most clear water, looking for tasty tidbits.

A Great Blue Heron moves in the shallows, often at dawn or dusk. It isn’t a fussy eater. It will spear a fish, toad, or frog with its long bill and then  swallow its food whole. The Great Blue is a strong flyer, with a deep wingbeat. In flight, look for his long legs trailing behind and for his long neck to be bent back so his head is over his body. Click here to listen to his charming call.