I was able to creep near a great blue heron rookery near Fort Collins.  I spent an afternoon observing and photographing these wonderful birds as they came and went from their nesting sites.  As the afternoon wore on, the evening sun illuminated the birds as they flew near me, and the light was magical.  The rookery had 10 nests, and I counted 8-10 birds on the tree at various times during the afternoon.  I think nesting had not quite started – several trips appeared to be bringing nesting material to the tree.  There were occasional squabbles over roosting spots, with one or the other bird giving up, leaving the tree, circling the tree a couple of times, and landing on an undisputed limb.  Once in a while, a heron would appear from a distant spot, majestically making its way to the rookery.  Once, I saw the incoming bird lose no time to mate with a heron waiting at the rookery.  Later in the afternoon, the sun was low in the west, and the light was perfect to catch the birds in flight.  I have posted several shots; the one I think is best is found in my catalog

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