Great Blue Heron...FINALLY!!

[HikinMike]

I’ve been trying to capture a Great Blue Heron (GBH), close up, for some time now. Every time I get closer they fly away. Yesterday I drove out to the Merced NWR, just because. Didn’t plan on getting anything, not even a sunset photo as there were no clouds. I just thought I’d drive the loop anyway. I see this guy sitting along the road….waiting for something. Since it was after sunset, lighting was getting bad, but who cares, right? As I usually do, I take a few photos, move closer (in the car) etc. I got pretty close….I was happy! I thought I’d try and get out of the van and get closer. Keep in mind I have to sit and scoot on my butt because of my legs. I got a few more shots and he flew away.

5D, 300mm f/4L, 1.4x II, ISO 3200, 1/100, f/5.6

 

[Scuba]

nice

 

[jtee]

Great shot I know these are difficult to get .

 

[icassell]

Very nice, Mike. Excellent focus and composition. I love shooting GBH's. It's one of those birds that I don't feel I need a 600mm f/4 to get.

BTW --- I just spent the past little while really enjoying your blog photography.

 

[wescobts]

Very nice, I don't have anything more than a 300mm, but even still I can get no where close, not even redwing blackbird, they spook when I bring the gear out

 

[cnabholz]

Very nice. I know at least in my experience and around my stomping grounds how hard it can be to get close to one of these

 

[HikinMike]

...
BTW --- I just spent the past little while really enjoying your blog photography.

Thanks Ian! I did the same. You've been to a lot of different places!

Very nice, I don't have anything more than a 300mm, but even still I can get no where close, not even redwing blackbird, they spook when I bring the gear out

FWIW, I can't get close enough with the Redwing Blackbirds either!!


Thanks everybody for looking. :blushing:

 

[Eco]

Nice! Congrats on getting pictures before he flew away! I've been trying to get one on the other side of my lake for the past 10 years without any luck.

 

[Pugs]

Great shot! Tack sharp! Great composition! The only thing I flaw that I can find to nit-pick is that I find the blurred grass in the lower right to be distracting.

 

[HikinMike]

What a beautiful capture. This is the kind of shot that inspires me to try photographing birds!

You should! Have you seen this that I posted last month?

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/123890-wildlife-nature-faq-2.html#post1747498

 

[HikinMike]

Great shot! Tack sharp! Great composition! The only thing I flaw that I can find to nit-pick is that I find the blurred grass in the lower right to be distracting.

Yeah, trying to be "in the weeds"!