You’ll be pleased to know, that this is the last of the display shots, note the small catch light.
After this shot, I was fortunate to spend another half hour with this bird. Infact it was so tolerant of me and the car, that it allowed me to track along with it, as it foraged. I got in excess of another hundred shots of it. Culling them down resulted in some hard decisions being made.
The only shot that I really wanted, which I didn’t get, was it with prey, but everything being even, I hope for the opportunity to get the shot, later this year.
80-400 @ 250mm, 1/125 @ f8, tripod mounted, from car, electrical cable release used. Full frame.
Good heavens Ray... the last time I saw anything like that it had a stick on the end of it and was used for cleaning out the Loo.!!
A very interesting series of images you have posted. As a piece of informative photography this is great, aesthetically a bit central but then there probably isn't much you can do about it given the shape of the bird.
Robert.
Posted by Sam Mannaerts on January 18, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Wow, never seen this before!
Nice capture!
grtz,
Sam
Posted by Ian Mason on January 18, 2009 at 10:06 AM
What an impressive display! Great sequence of behaviour. I'm interested to see the difference in the colours between this one and your last post - I can't make my mind up which one is more natural. I certainly see a big difference in the greens and maybe half way between the two would be about right?
Posted by jack chapman on January 18, 2009 at 11:11 AM
best in the series in my opinion, the colours are great and the behaviour is superb
Posted by Andy Shepherd on January 18, 2009 at 1:09 PM
It's been an impressive series of Bittern shots Ray, this being the best of the bunch IMO, fantastic pose and well taken in what looks like harsh light.
I too can see a big difference in colour between this image and the last one (No.6), your previous post looks greatly over saturated when compared to this one (No.7)
Posted by Colin Crowdey on January 18, 2009 at 2:56 PM
yep, best in the series I reckon. Never seen a Bittern display like this, so thanks for sharing
cheers
Colin
Posted by Guy Rogers on January 18, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Hello Ray
Great pose and thanks for posting the series.
Posted by eric weight on January 19, 2009 at 1:20 AM
I have been folowing this series Ray and if I'm honest I couldn't make my mind up about some of them, but this is an absolutely startling piece of behaviour and you have captured it expertly. I am most impressed. I shall now revisit them all. Eric
Posted by Mark Sisson on January 19, 2009 at 5:24 AM
Most unusual display - bet you enjoyed that evening!!
Mark
Posted by Lee Newman on January 19, 2009 at 12:38 PM
A great pose very well captured. I have liked this Bittern series.
Lee
Posted by John Chapman on January 19, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Hi Ray well caught.
Posted by John Varley on January 19, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Very interesting series Ray, I like this one the best. An amazing display perfectly captured.
Discussion
13 repliesAfter this shot, I was fortunate to spend another half hour with this bird. Infact it was so tolerant of me and the car, that it allowed me to track along with it, as it foraged. I got in excess of another hundred shots of it. Culling them down resulted in some hard decisions being made.
The only shot that I really wanted, which I didn’t get, was it with prey, but everything being even, I hope for the opportunity to get the shot, later this year.
80-400 @ 250mm, 1/125 @ f8, tripod mounted, from car, electrical cable release used. Full frame.
A very interesting series of images you have posted. As a piece of informative photography this is great, aesthetically a bit central but then there probably isn't much you can do about it given the shape of the bird.
Robert.
Nice capture!
grtz,
Sam
It's been an impressive series of Bittern shots Ray, this being the best of the bunch IMO, fantastic pose and well taken in what looks like harsh light.
I too can see a big difference in colour between this image and the last one (No.6), your previous post looks greatly over saturated when compared to this one (No.7)
Andy...
cheers
Colin
Great pose and thanks for posting the series.
Mark
Lee
John