Tricolored Heron Fight

Gallery: AvianPosted May 10, 2014244 views13 comments

I just returned from leading our week long Texas workshop, this is one of the shots from that trip. This was taken at a Tricolored Heron and Laughing Gull colony on the Texas coast. These 2 herons were fighting, locked beaks and then seemed to be stuck together as they fell in the air for a bit.

Canon 5D3 500F4 1/6400 F8, iso 800

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on May 10, 2014 at 7:46 PM

Incredible shot. Wonderful catch.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 10, 2014 at 9:42 PM

Wow, the the beak 'lock' here makes for a unique & unusual "flight fight" shot to say the very least

What else is there to say but - You da man!

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

Comment posted by Marina Scarr on May 11, 2014 at 2:09 PM

Terrific behavior captured. If you could give it a little more room on the bottom (and maybe a little less on top), I think it would improve the image.

Registered on March 6, 2014, 11 Posts, 104 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 11, 2014 at 2:10 PM

What an action framed.. hats of ! Congrats,

, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Zimic on May 11, 2014 at 6:17 PM

Now that's one unusual shot. Nicely captured.

Registered on November 23, 2003, 176 Posts, 727 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 12, 2014 at 5:27 AM

Super action shot, Nate! I don't know what these birds look like, but I feel the colours look a little muted

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 12, 2014 at 9:50 AM

Thanks for your comments everyone, Ajit this was taken about 4pm on a sunny day so the lighting is a bit harsh which leads to the colors being muted.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on May 12, 2014 at 11:56 AM

Unusual and dramatic Nate.
Very well captured.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on May 13, 2014 at 12:34 AM

An amazing catch! Makes we wonder who won in the end. This is quite an action shot, everything looks so clear and I guess 1/6400 is why. Really nice one.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 13, 2014 at 5:39 PM

Amazing image Nate.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Lucy Aron on May 15, 2014 at 3:01 PM

Amazing dynamic shot. I like the subtle color of the sky as well.

Registered on February 25, 2011, 189 Posts, 1160 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on May 15, 2014 at 8:44 PM

Wow! Amazing catch Nate!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on May 16, 2014 at 9:47 PM

WOW Nate. Stellar action. That bottom bird looks like he's starting to panic reaching out with his foot to try and pull his beak back. I agree with Marina that a little more room on the bottom and a little less on top might help just a little with framing. Considering the harsh light you were shooting in this amazing. Never seen anything like this one before. Congrats Nate.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments