Tag: Great Blue Heron

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Group of herons

I've only seen a group of herons together one other time, and that was when they were perched in trees (I wish I would have been able to get decent photos of that event, but it was in thick fog). I was surprised to see this group together, and unfortunately it was right at the end of the dike, so I didn't have an opportunity to try the shot from a better angle. 1/1600 sec, f6.3, ISO400
I’ve only seen a group of herons together one other time, and that was when they were perched in trees (I wish I would have been able to get decent photos of that event, but it was in thick fog). I was surprised to see this group together, and unfortunately it was right at the end of the dike, so I didn’t have an opportunity to try the shot from a better angle.
1/1600 sec, f6.3, ISO400
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Great Blue Heron

Last Sunday morning started on a sad note. While driving to the dikes, I slowed when I saw something laying in the middle of the road, and unfortunately it was one of these beautiful herons that had been struck by a car. I was planning on removing it from the road after our walk, but thankfully someone else had done so by the time we returned...unless a coyote got to it first. After the sad start, I had some of the best heron sightings I've had in a while; so many individuals were out that morning. It was quite hazy with the heat, but thankfully I came away after a lovely walk with a few good photos :) 1/1250 sec, f6.3, ISO 400
Last Sunday morning started on a sad note. While driving to the dikes, I slowed when I saw something laying in the middle of the road, and unfortunately it was one of these beautiful herons that had been struck by a car. I was planning on removing it from the road after our walk, but thankfully someone else had done so by the time we returned…unless a coyote got to it first.
After the sad start, I had some of the best heron sightings I’ve had in a while; so many individuals were out that morning. It was quite hazy with the heat, but thankfully I came away after a lovely walk with a few good photos 🙂
1/1250 sec, f6.3, ISO 400
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Great blue heron (and a duck)

The still morning provided a lovely reflection of the great blue heron on the water. I was lucky enough to catch a duck taking off at the same time. 1/200 sec, f5.6, ISO 100
The still morning provided a lovely reflection of the great blue heron on the water. I was lucky enough to catch a duck taking off at the same time.
1/200 sec, f5.6, ISO 100
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Great Blue Heron

Only two weeks ago, this fallen tree was far beyond the water line. With the warm weather, the river has risen quickly. I'll be interested to see if the water gets high enough to move this tree from where I have seen it for the last six months or so. On this morning, it was an excellent perch for a great blue heron. 1/160 sec, f13, ISO 1000
Only two weeks ago, this fallen tree was far beyond the water line. With the warm weather, the river has risen quickly. I’ll be interested to see if the water gets high enough to move this tree from where I have seen it for the last six months or so.
On this morning, it was an excellent perch for a great blue heron.
1/160 sec, f13, ISO 1000
The beautiful curve of the heron's neck is mimicked in the branches reflecting in the water by the heron's legs. 1/500sec, f13, ISO 1000
The beautiful curve of the heron’s neck is mimicked in the branches reflecting in the water by the heron’s legs.
1/500sec, f13, ISO 1000
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Great Blue Herons

Here are a few more heron photos from Saturday’s fabulous walk on the dike.

This female was following the male, and as soon as she got too close, he flew off. I don't know if that type of behaviour is part of their mating ritual, or he just wasn't interested in being near her. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000
This female was following the male, and as soon as she got too close, he flew off. I don’t know if that type of behaviour is part of their mating ritual, or he just wasn’t interested in being near her.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000
Tired of being pursued, he's up and away. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO1000
Tired of being pursued, he’s up and away.
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO1000
My camera doesn't handle high ISO all that well, and the noise reduction option in Lightroom leaves the photo a bit soft. But, it was an interesting sighting and the first time I was able to see a male and female together, so I'm posting them anyways :) 1/320 sec, f5.6, ISO1000
My camera doesn’t handle high ISO all that well, and the noise reduction option in Lightroom leaves the photo a bit soft. But, it was an interesting sighting and the first time I was able to see a male and female together, so I’m posting them anyways 🙂
1/320 sec, f5.6, ISO1000

At rest

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Birds, birds and more birds

Saturday was quite the day for bird sightings while out on my morning walk with the dog.  I haven’t had a chance to do much editing, but since I also haven’t been terribly consistent with posting, I thought I should do a quick post showing a sample of the birds I saw on the weekend, and hopefully I will have a chance to highlight each sighting later in the week.

I'm having some real difficulty with my bird identification, but I think this is a juvenile bald eagle, based on the beak and the size.
I’m having some real difficulty with my bird identification, but I think this is a juvenile bald eagle, based on the beak and the size.
I'm not sure what type of sandpiper these are. They were in a small pond next to the dike - these were a first for me :) Not a stunning photo, but just great to see something new.
I’m not sure what type of sandpiper these are. They were in a small pond next to the dike – these were a first for me 🙂 Not a stunning photo, but just great to see something new.
The female was in hot pursuit of the male, and as soon as she got too close, he would fly a little way further down the shore.
The female heron was in hot pursuit of the male, and as soon as she got too close, he would fly a little way further down the shore.
I have been hoping that one day I would be able to get a decent photo of a flicker, and Saturday was my day. More to follow!
I have been hoping that one day I would be able to get a decent photo of a flicker, and Saturday was my day. More to follow!
So, I had a post called Slow; where I called myself out for not taking my camera with me. This time, I put it away moments too soon. After the juvenile eagle, an osprey that I didn't manage to photograph, the flickers and the sandpipers, I thought my photographing was done for the day, and put my camera away, as I was only a couple minutes from the parking lot. And of course, a pair of adult bald eagles took off from the trees and headed straight towards me. :( This is the best I could capture... note to self, don't put away the camera until you're in the car!
So, I had a post called Slow; where I called myself out for not taking my camera with me. This time, I put it away moments too soon. After the juvenile eagle, an osprey that I didn’t manage to photograph, the flickers and the sandpipers, I thought my photographing was done for the day, and put my camera away, as I was only a couple minutes from the parking lot. And of course, a pair of adult bald eagles took off from the trees and headed straight towards me. 🙁 This is the best I could capture… note to self, don’t put away the camera until you’re in the car!
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Great Blue Heron

On our drive to the dikes this morning, we had a great blue heron take off from the side of the road, and fly straight towards the car.  I braked hard (luckily it was early and there was no one else on the road) and the heron decided to change direction at the last possible moment, so thankfully, no casualties today 🙂  It’s amazing to see them up close though, and be able to see how big their wingspan is.

I am glad I grabbed my camera bag on the way out the door, as I had some great bird sightings today.  I only managed a few shots of the heron, but I have lots more photos to go through for future posts.

A great blue heron coming in to land.
A great blue heron coming in to land.
A lovely reflection of the heron in the river. 1/160sec, f5.6, ISO1600
A lovely reflection of the heron in the river.
1/160sec, f5.6, ISO1600
Relaxed at the water's edge; no doubt keeping an eye out for the next meal.
Relaxed at the water’s edge; no doubt keeping an eye out for the next meal.
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Silhouettes

The clear, cold weather over the weekend brought with it a lot of shivering, but also a lot of great photos opportunities.  I had Spencer with me, so I was more concerned with his well-being and enjoyment than getting the perfect shot… but, I still managed to get a few that I really like.

I hadn’t set out with a theme in mind, but the strongest photos of the weekend were all silhouettes (a clear topic for the blog – hurray!)

I see a Cooper's Hawk on nearly every weekend walk I take out at the dikes, and still they catch me by surprise most times. I was glad I had the camera set to capture it in flight. The setting sun is glimmering off of some of the ice floating in the river. 1/1250, f5.6, ISO100.
I see a Cooper’s Hawk on nearly every weekend walk I take out at the dikes, and still they catch me by surprise most times. I was glad I had the camera set to capture it in flight. The setting sun is glimmering off of some of the ice floating in the river. 1/1250, f5.6, ISO100.
I saw this pair on the dike as we were pulling into the parking lot, and snapped a few quick photos without thinking too much more about it. This is one of my favourites from that afternoon. 1/1250, f4.5, ISO100
I saw this pair on the dike as we were pulling into the parking lot, and snapped a few quick photos without thinking too much more about it. This is one of my favourites from that afternoon.
1/1250, f4.5, ISO100
Cool tones in the sky, and ribbons of ice lining the river's edge. The ice creaking in the dark made things a little bit spooky. I had to adjust my exposure slider 1 1/2 stops in processing, so I guess I should have bumped my ISO to start or waited an extra 10 seconds or so during the exposure. 61sec, f22, ISO100
Cool tones in the sky, and ribbons of ice lining the river’s edge. The ice creaking in the dark made things a little bit spooky.
I had to adjust my exposure slider 1 1/2 stops in processing, so I guess I should have bumped my ISO to start or waited an extra 10 seconds or so during the exposure. 61sec, f22, ISO100
While we were walking, I saw this shape in the water, and thought it was a oddly shaped stump. When I realized it was a heron resting, I set up right away, and didn't bother adjusting my settings; I just hoped it would stay still long enough to get a shot. Like the Golden Ears photo, I had to adjust my exposure slider 1 1/2 stops...but I am glad I pressed down on the remote when I did, as he soon shifted position. 34sec, f29, ISO100
While we were walking, I saw this shape in the water, and thought it was a oddly shaped stump. When I realized it was a heron resting, I set up right away, and didn’t bother adjusting my settings; I just hoped it would stay still long enough to get a shot. Like the Golden Ears photo, I had to adjust my exposure slider 1 1/2 stops…but I am glad I pressed down on the remote when I did, as he soon shifted position.
34sec, f29, ISO100
I love the sky before sunrise, with the beautiful warm tones to the east, and cool tones to the west. 2.5sec, f22, ISO100
I love the sky before sunrise, with the beautiful warm tones to the east, and cool tones to the west.
2.5sec, f22, ISO100
Beautiful Mount Baker, about a half hour before sunrise. 6.0sec, f25, ISO100
Beautiful Mount Baker, about a half hour before sunrise.
6.0sec, f25, ISO100
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