Great Blue Heron

Gallery: AvianPosted September 16, 2012185 views11 comments

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ,
Date: September 22, 2007 3:45 pm
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor 300/2.8 AF-S, TC20E (2x), G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: aperture priority matrix meter, ISO 200, 1/200th @ f/5.6
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac, 60% of frame

I posted this originally here on 9/29/07, but decided to tweek the image a little and re-post as a companion to my previous post of a Black-necked Stilt since they share the same resting posture. At the time I saw this heron I assumed it was quite stressed by the heat and lack of water at the Ranch.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. Larger image provided.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 16, 2012 at 12:11 PM

Very interesting. I imagine most very long legged birds rest this way. I see sandhill cranes doing it a lot.

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

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on September 16, 2012 at 12:24 PM

Nice capture showing this unusual behavior and the dry, cracked ground. He's probably thinking "where's all the dad-gummed water with the fish."

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 16, 2012 at 7:57 PM

A very interesting pose, Richard. The Stilt was excellent as well. It does look strange this way.

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

Comment posted by Ed Williams on September 16, 2012 at 8:31 PM

Wow! Poor thing looks really stressed. Interesting posture here. Great color, details, etc. The balance feels a little bit too far off center to me I think due to the plain nature of the rest of the image.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on September 16, 2012 at 8:44 PM

Dang Richard how do you keep finding these birds on their knees posing for you. Ha-ha. Another very neat shot!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on September 17, 2012 at 1:43 PM

Great behavioral shot. I've never seen a heron in this pose. Very unique and interesting.

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on September 17, 2012 at 8:42 PM

Looks like he just got tired of waiting for the water to return - interesting behavioral shot. I like the bird a bit smaller in the frame surrounded by the dry mud-cracked terrain - adds some real tension to the shot.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on September 17, 2012 at 10:10 PM

Great moment of capture. Never sen this. Bravo

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on September 18, 2012 at 8:10 PM

Interesting image, for the pose, parched earth, and strong composition. Well done Richard, your post processing looks very good.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on September 19, 2012 at 10:43 AM

Nice detail and I like the story that seems to be told here: to me it looks like he is wanting water and can find none. Nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 27, 2013 at 7:57 AM

This one tells a great story of life in the wild with its inherent adversity..
And what's more challenging/stressful than a heron without water?
Nicely done Rich.

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments