Green Heron

SCraig · May 24, 2014

I don't like the backside point of view in these shots but these guys are really shy and they have fantastic hearing and eyesight. I saw it fly under a tree and kind of crept up relatively close to get these shots. The first shot was a complete backside shot, and as soon as the shutter snapped he snapped his head around and stared at me. That put him on guard, and when I tried to get around for a better side shot he was having none of that and headed across the lake.

tirediron · May 24, 2014

Maybe if you go back when he's ripe?

BillM · May 24, 2014

^^^ LOL ^^^

Nice shots :thumbup:

LarryLomona · May 24, 2014

Great details and colors.

SCraig · May 24, 2014

BillM said:
^^^ LOL ^^^

Nice shots :thumbup:

LarryLomona said:
Great details and colors.

tirediron said:
Maybe if you go back when he's ripe?

Thanks guys. They are cute birds in an ugly, ungainly sort of way.

Good point, John, but actually this one is ripe. The juveniles are spotted

IzzieK · May 24, 2014

Well at least even if they are butt shots to you, you got good head poses there and sharp highlights in the eyes...you should be happy with that. :lol:

SCraig · May 25, 2014

IzzieK said:
Well at least even if they are butt shots to you, you got good head poses there and sharp highlights in the eyes...you should be happy with that.

I guess that's the only reason I kept them at all

Birds are just generally uncooperative and in many instances it's a simple "Take What We Can Get" situation. This was one of those situations. I did get one that was nothing but butt, but (that's ugly grammar!) I didn't even look at it twice while post-processing them.

Thanks for the comment.

IzzieK · May 25, 2014

SCraig said:
IzzieK said:

Well at least even if they are butt shots to you, you got good head poses there and sharp highlights in the eyes...you should be happy with that.

Click to expand...

I guess that's the only reason I kept them at all Birds are just generally uncooperative and in many instances it's a simple "Take What We Can Get" situation. This was one of those situations. I did get one that was nothing but butt, but (that's ugly grammar!) I didn't even look at it twice while post-processing them.

Thanks for the comment.

you mean...butt ugly? Go to Australia, it is a common word, just like the word Bastard is a compliment, not a swear word. Honest!

nzmacro · May 26, 2014

Nice shot and a nice setting Scott. Would be nice to have it heading toward the camera, but we all take what we can get. Nice colours and details. Really do like that environment for some reason.

All the best Scott and there is always a next time.

Danny.

SCraig · May 26, 2014

nzmacro said:
Nice shot and a nice setting Scott. Would be nice to have it heading toward the camera, but we all take what we can get. Nice colours and details. Really do like that environment for some reason.

All the best Scott and there is always a next time.

Danny.

Thanks, Danny. I agree, there is always next time and when shooting birds we always have to take what we are presented with. Several times I have asked birds to turn around or pose slightly differently, but they tend to ignore everything I say

These birds are quite shy and don't like to be anywhere near humans so I don't see them very often. I normally see them flying into a spot but when I try to get in a position for a decent shot they take off. That's what happened with this one. I saw him fly under a tree and got these shots, but when I tried to get around to the side for a better view he took off. But I do see them from time to time and will try to do better next time

Thanks for the comments.

nzmacro · May 26, 2014

Interesting info Scott, thanks for that. I'll often make some silly sound to get them to do a head turn, but these by the sound of them will just run or fly away. Some birds you can and some you can't. Fine looking Heron and a bit shorter by the looks to ours. Only seen two types of Heron's here, the white faced and the reef Heron. Reef Heron's are few and far between.

Anyway, fascinating thanks Scott and still darn good shots.

Danny.

snowbear · May 26, 2014

I like the "pose" in first one, but it is tilting a bit to port.

SCraig · May 26, 2014

nzmacro said:
Interesting info Scott, thanks for that. I'll often make some silly sound to get them to do a head turn, but these by the sound of them will just run or fly away. Some birds you can and some you can't. Fine looking Heron and a bit shorter by the looks to ours. Only seen two types of Heron's here, the white faced and the reef Heron. Reef Heron's are few and far between.

Anyway, fascinating thanks Scott and still darn good shots.

Danny.

Thanks, Danny. We do have several species of Heron around here and these guys are the smallest by far. All of the variants we have around here are very shy but these take it to extremes. I do make sounds to try and get birds to turn their heads and, as you said, some times it works and others it doesn't. It didn't work with this one

snowbear said:
I like the "pose" in first one, but it is tilting a bit to port.

Thanks, Charlie. To be honest I didn't even notice the lean until you mentioned it. You are right though and I'll straighten it up a bit. Thanks for pointing it out.