<< Previous Next >>

Great Blue Heron


Great Blue Heron
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-09-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, Canon EF 600mm f4.0L IS USM
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/1250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2010-10-08 13:16
Viewed: 3101
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This Great Blue Heron was feeding in the shallows of the lagoon at Fish Creek wildlife observation site. When you are waiting for bears you get lots of other visitors that come by. I had some good fortune with some beautiful light here.

The tall, long-legged great blue heron is the most common and largest of North American herons.

Great blue herons are waders, typically seen along coastlines, in marshes, or near the shores of ponds or streams. They are expert fishers. Herons snare their aquatic prey by walking slowly, or standing still for long periods of time and waiting for fish to come within range of their long necks and blade-like bills. The deathblow is delivered with a quick thrust of the sharp bill, and the prey is swallowed whole. Great blue herons have been known to choke to death by attempting to swallow fish too large for their long, S-shaped necks. Though they are best known as fishers, mice constitute a large part of their diet, and they also eat insects and other small creatures.

Great blue herons' size (3.2 to 4.5 feet/1 to 1.4 meters) and wide wingspan (5.5 to 6.6 feet/1.7 to 2 meters) make them a joy to see in flight. They can cruise at some 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers) an hour.

Though great blue herons hunt alone, they typically nest in colonies. They prefer tall trees, but sometimes nest in low shrubs. Females produce two to seven eggs, which both parents protect and incubate. Chicks can survive on their own by about two months of age.

The all-white color morph found in the Caribbean and southern Florida is often called the great white heron, but it is in fact the same species.
from National Geographic Animals
siggi, Argus, eng55, eqshannon, goldyrs, Alex99, Noisette, uleko, tuslaw has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2010-10-08 13:24]

Hello Rick,
Great image of this Great Blue Heron. The sharpness and details on the plumage are excellent.I Lovely colours and the eye stands out really well too! Well done and TFS.Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2010-10-08 13:31]

Hello Rick,
A fine capture of this impressive species of heron, the Great Blue. The vigilant pose at thye waters edge is a classic and taken from a great POV with fine clarity and natural colours.
Thanks for sharing this fine image and have a great weekend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2010-10-08 14:11]

Hi Rick,
Splendid capture of this blue heron.Exposure is spot on,details are crisp clear.POV,sharpness and composition are also wonderful.
Thanks for sharing..

Super cropping job. Nice image for a man with pain. You certainly are tenacious.
Bob

A beautiful shot of this Great Blue Heron, Rick!
Very well done!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2010-10-09 2:54]

Hi Rick.
What a pictorial and wonderful scene. All is simply amazing. Grass, fry tree and twigs, lake and of course, splendid bird. Composition, DOF, details are the best as well as clarity of the shot, lights and wonderful exact colours. My congratulations and FS.
Alexei.

Great picture, nice back groud with the water, grass and large tree going on. Two thumbs up!

Hello Rick
wonderful scene of this Great Blue Heron in his natural environment, you have captured in a nice pose and with very sharp details,
wonderful color tones and composition
Have a great sunday
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2010-10-10 7:50]

Hello Rick,
A lovely capture of this elegant Great Blue Heron taken in beautiful light and in a natural environment. Excellent sharpness and beautiful colours in this fine composition.
TFS and kind regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2010-10-10 9:32]

Hello Rick,
Beautiful photo of this Great Blue Heron. A little different than our Blue Heron. Fantastic DOF. Good sharpness, details and natural colours in an excellent composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Rick,
What a nice shot! Wonderful bird, excellent sharpness, perfect focus showing nice details and colours. Well done!
Regards,
Mircea

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2010-10-11 19:24]

Hello Rick,
The lighting was just right for this beautiful shot. The plumage is shown very well and you managed to capture wonderful detail. I like the intense look it has on it's face as it searches for food. Super image!!
Ron

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF