GB Heron, a Cormorant and a Couple of Ducks

Sounds like the next line is supposed to be...walk into a bar...?
Managed to make a few images this morning of a Great Blue Heron nesting bringing material back and forth to the nest. While watching this, nesting Cormorants were doing the same and a couple of ducks did a fly by. It is always fun shooting birds flying by.

Great Blue in Flight

Closer crop

The Cormorant

Hooded Merganser with a wing dip in the water

Northern Shoveler n flight

and One last Great Blue Heron with a twig for the nest

Kurt, beautiful flight shots! I love all the heron shots! I think my favorite is the last one. If it were mine, I'd clone the tree on the bottom and the pole for a less distracting background. Otherwise all look great to me! Where are you finding so any great species?

Simply magnificent photography here, Kurt! Love the variety of poses you capture and they're all technically perfect.
A real treat to view and savor, as always!

Sharp and very nice.. In flight shots!!!!

Thanks for sharing those great shots of BIFs. They are wonderful shots, crisp, clear and great detail; and a source of encouragement to us less talented bird shooters.

Another nice, sharp set. 2, 3, & 4 for me. Do you have just a touch of frame to add below the merganser's reflection?

Really cool, Kurt, well done as always. I really like #2.

Not really a criticism cause i could only dream of getting the quality wildlife shots you do--but Im curious about your preference for stop action--seems like most if not all shots you post are super frozen in place--and while it gives them a unique look, it seems to rob some of the dynamics for me--like #1, a classic example--very cool pose but it looks like the heron has seen a taxidermist, like its been nailed up there. I have a hunch that some blur in those wings would make it come alive for me. Have you considered that? I imagine it would be hard to pull off since you need certain parts in focus--but if anyone could pull it off you could. Just thinkin out loud here...

Thanks for the comments and feedback everyone.
@Debbie - I agree the post in the BG is not prime, but I am trying to stay away from cloning as much as possible. For one, it disqualifies images for most contests and I plan on finally entering a few contests this year. Something I have only done twice in the past.
@Doug - yes I actually have a smidgeon more frame on the bottom. When I processed it, I actually kept it in, but the position of the duck looked a bit off putting to me, so I tried cropping closer on the reflection thinking the subject is most important and the refection is secondary so it wouldn't matter as much. I might be wrong in that thinking. I will take another look and see if I can make it work.
@ Stan - I actually do have many flight shots of various species with blurred wing tips and it is something I so try for specifically (sometimes). I personally don't think it is much harder to do since the main focal point is on the head when I track them in flight. Personally, I like the blur sometimes and sometimes like them frozen. I also get people asking for them both ways, so it seems to be a personal preference thing from person to person. Lately, I seem to be in a mode of freezing everything.
Again, thank you everyone for the critiques, thoughts and ideas. They are always welcome.

Exception set Kurt, amazing work all around, hard to pick favorites but 2, 5 and 7 in that order are the best of the best for me. I actually prefer the action freeze shots especially for the images that have great wing shapes.