There is a fairly large Great Blue Heron rookery tucked along the Runnins River behind the Home Depot in Seekonk. At least a dozen nests are visible from the parking lot nearest the river, although when I visited at mid-day there was very little activity. I was told that the rookery is most active right after sunrise, so I may need to revisit the site before summer foliage completely blocks the view. I was lucky enough to photograph this one heron launching from the nest in the center of the three nests in the photo. If you look close enough at the nest, you'll see one of the chicks, but the baby is very well camouflaged by the tangle of branches around which the nest is constructed. There is also an Osprey nest on a nearby cell tower, and I was told today that Bald Eagles occasionally stop by to prey on the herons. It's a very active wildlife location, especially considering the congestion of adjacent Route 6.
Post processing started with a brilliant cold filter in Topaz Adjust. I then adjusted contrast, brightness, and protect highlights. A levels adjustment was added in PSE.
