Great Egret

Gallery: AvianPosted September 25, 2010436 views19 comments

Just at sunrise the adult normally stands up to stretch and catch the warming rays from the early morning sun. I normally arrive 15-20 minutes before sunrise to position myself and be ready. Sometimes nothing happens and sometimes it's worth the effort. The little guy took a quick (ugly) yawn when it's parent stood up.
Southeast Louisiana swamp, from truck window with bean bag.

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time: APRIL 8 @ 7:02am
Model NIKON D200
Flash Used NEVER
Focal Length 680 mm (NIKON 400MM F/2.8D AF-I + NIKON TC17EII)
Exposure Time 1/320 sec
Aperture f/4.8
ISO Equivalent 200
Exposure Bias -1/3
Metering Mode matrix
RAW
Exposure Program aperture priority

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on September 25, 2010 at 1:16 PM

Wow, Wonderful.Ronnie !!!

Maurp

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 25, 2010 at 1:45 PM

That youngster sure is ugly.... beautiful details and lighting. What makes this special for me is the hint of shadow on the tree trunk - awesome.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 25, 2010 at 2:24 PM

Getting up early to be in position really paid off in this image and wonderful timing to get the little one yawning. A great job of handling a difficult color contrast between the egret and it's surroundings. An amazng shot with excellent detail, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 25, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Wonderful setting, love the expression of the yawning chick, nice white exposure and I too like the bill shadow on the tree trunk. It looks like you're slightly above eye level of the egret, yet the nest is in a tree (apparently) and you were shooting from your truck. I'm assuming either the truck was on an elevated road to the tree or the nest was very low. Excellent image Ronnie.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 25, 2010 at 5:16 PM

Another beauty in this series Ronnie

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on September 25, 2010 at 5:24 PM

Wonderful shot. Perfect light and situation.

Congrats

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Ronnie Gaubert on September 25, 2010 at 5:40 PM

To Ron,
The road is about 2 feet above the water level and the window of my truck with bean bag must be about 4 feet above the road. So my camera is 6 feet above water level. I would estimate the nest was 5-6 feet above the water level. So pretty much eye level.

Ronnie

Registered on November 1, 2003, 810 Posts, 3495 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on September 25, 2010 at 5:47 PM

Wonderful capture Ronnie, besides the obvious value of parent and chicks the poses, your positioning and exposure settings all make this a treasure. Congratulations!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 25, 2010 at 7:02 PM

Thanks for the explanation Ronnie. I've never seen a nesting Great Egret and I guess I made the assumption in my mind that they would nest higher in the canopy than this.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on September 25, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Ronnie,

The raised feathers on the head of the chicks got me laughing, they look like someone I know in the early morning. (I just know I will get an email from that person calling me a turd LOL) Love how the one chick is yawning. Great light, beautiful natural colors, details & sharpness. The setting; as with most of your images, is enchanting. Love the shadow of the bill on the tree trunk.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on September 25, 2010 at 9:44 PM

Nice lighting and setting. I like the adult standing over the chicks w/ the one chicks mouth open.

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Ross on September 25, 2010 at 9:47 PM

Very nice Ronnie, great soft warm light adds alot to the image showing off the plumes very well. That yawn is great.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on September 25, 2010 at 10:45 PM

Beautiful as well as very interesting to see, Ronnie. Looks like your early morning effort sure paid off!! The expression on the adult and on the yawning chick make this shot special.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 25, 2010 at 11:13 PM

Beautiful light, Ronnie and neat behavior.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on September 26, 2010 at 11:01 AM

A very strong image, Ronnie.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 26, 2010 at 12:19 PM

Awesome light here Ronnie. This comp is one of the best. A WP candidate IMO. Extremely well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Axel Hildebrandt on September 27, 2010 at 4:57 PM

Great light and setting, nice to see the little ones, too.

Registered on October 16, 2006, 66 Posts, 441 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on September 28, 2010 at 6:45 AM

Ronnie<

Your shots continue to wow me. They are perfection in every way!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on September 28, 2010 at 2:56 PM

What a proud parent. I love the chick with the open bill and you (and Mia) always find the best light.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments