Great Blue Heron - Lift off and flight

[coastalconn]

Just figured I would share a GBH from this morning. I was shooting wide open at F6.3 to get some shutter speed as it was overcast. Didn't give me quite enough DOF as you can see in the first shot, the focus plane is on the left wing.. C&C welcome as always.. I probably should have used spot metering as you can see the exposure change from the first to the second shot.. You can click through to flickr if you want a bigger view...

1 Great Blue lift off by krisinct, on Flickr

2
Great Blue Heron in flight 11/14-1 by krisinct, on Flickr

3
Great Blue Heron in flight 11/14-2 by krisinct, on Flickr

 

[Derrel]

Ohhhh! The liftoff shot, with the water splashing from the feet--SPLENDID!!!

 

[AlexanderB]

Bird masterpiece almost daily! That's cool.

 

[coastalconn]

Thanks Derrel and Alexander!

 

[pab]

Amazing shot! Love your work

 

[nmoody]

That liftoff one is pretty amazing! I love how the feathers are.... feathering? hehe

 

[cool09]

Awesome blue colors! We have those in Upper Chesapeake. Also have this smaller white bird (~16-18" high) with long legs that hang around cows for some reason. Don't know what they are. And large turkey buzzards that stand on fence posts or house roofs and dry their huge wings.

I'm glad a lot of small and large water areas are preserved. It really does make a difference wrt letting these birds and animals flourish well and the entire animal chain really. They're entitled to it as much as we are.

 

[WesternGuy]

CC, great images, up to your usual high standard. I have very seldom had the opportunity to catch a GBH taking off. I guess I will have to be a bit more observant.

WesternGuy

 

[shefjr]

Marvelous shots as usual! :thumbup: