Yesterday was a foggy start to the day and I did shoot some landscapes but nothing exciting, I don’t think…we’ll see…and the orange sun never did burn through the clouds which was my hope as I stood in a soaking wet field of tall grass. I ended up walking the Norwottuck Rail Trail again and came across a Green Heron hiding in the reeds along the edge of Poor Farm Swamp Pond. The bird decided to fly to another spot, then a closer one and I was able to watch it for quite a few minutes. Eventually the heron flew off, but I managed to get several shots, most of which were similar.
The light was pretty dim most of the early morning and this is a bit noisier than I would like. I did reduce it somewhat but tried to keep the details in the feathers and a sharp eye.
She was not here to pose and did manage to grab a small fish while I watched.
What little light there was faded for a few minutes and that was when the catch happened.
Both images are somewhat cropped even with the full 400mm plus an extender that made it 560. Still better than a 70-200. 🙂
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
To me you had admirable success.. what a great pose in the first photo and I can see the colour and detail of the plumage. And then you’ve actually got it with the catch held in its beak. Wonderful!
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Thanks, LIz. It was a fun few minutes spending time watching the heron patiently watching for prey.
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Win-win situation – you both caught something 🙂
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🙂
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You’ve kept the details extremely well – difficult to do when the light is going and the lens is long! The heron looks very thoughtful in that first shot. I’m glad she got her dinner!
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Thank you, Ann. I am a bit fussy so appreciate your positive feedback. 🙂 All that time spent, I too was glad to see her get a nice fish for breakfast.
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These are really skittish Steve. I’ve tried to get photos a few times but they never give me time. Well done.
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Thanks, Andrew. There must be some difference between the species we have here and the ones you see. These are quite patient and hold steady for seconds at a time making a sharp capture fairly easy. I had to up the ISO because of the low lighting but ordinarily 100 would do.
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I do love Green Herons. I find it very enjoyable watching them move around looking for prey, especially when, as happened for you, they actually catch something. You continue making great use of that longer lens. Nice work.
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I find their coloration the most appealing among the waders although all are attractive which was part of what sank their populations for a while. Most of the time she was posing nicely but I was most happy seeing her catch a meal…or tidbit anyway.Thanks, Todd.
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I appreciate the curve the heron’s body follows in the second picture.
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They often crouch in that position while eating rather than stretched out which is how they nab their prey.
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And a few minutes well spent Steve! Wonderful photos of this lovely bird.
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Yes it was Pete. I always enjoy watching herons and egrets in the morning. Lots of preening and the occasion breakfast bite.
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Congratulations on getting one at all. I have tried and failed many times. I really like the second one. You caught the moment of the catch. A catch of a catch.
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Thanks, MIchael. I’ve actually had a fair amount of luck with green herons. I was given that as a nickname by a past blogger for this image. I like your title for the second. 🙂
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You have been far luckier than I. That was a great action shot. 😉
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I see these every day at work, hanging out on mooring lines or tucked beneath docks on the bulkhead stringers. It’s fun to see them, but this is a far better environment for photographing them. Like you, I find them approachable. If startled, they’ll squawk and fly, but when they’re focused on their fishing, they stay put. I especially like the way the colors of the bird and the background complement one another.
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Although I don’t wish them to take off, which this one eventually did when chasing a kingfisher away, but do love the sound of that cronk as they fly away. It was funny that she spent more time looking for territory challengers than prey but did catch one when concentrating. They may be “green” but I’ve always enjoyed the ruddy plumage and the delineation of the individual wing feathers.
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I agree with Liz–great “catch,” Steve. This is one of my favorite herons, and one I don’t get to see often. Getting wet feet paid off!
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Thank you, Tanja. I hope you get to see them more often. The sun dries my boots so I don’t mind the wet at all. 🙂
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I would have been happy with these, Steve! Love those little guys, so stealthy.
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I used to take part in a photography website, Natuescapes.Net, where folks were a bit tough when critiquing and the slightest pixel out of place would be pointed out. So I am a little self-critical, more than necessary I suppose, about things even if it isn’t something I have much experience with. Hence my panning of my moose image. 🙂 I am getting better at being satisfied and am happy with these. Thanks, Lynn.
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Hopefully, you can keep what’s helpful about being a perfectionist (e.g. high standards) and slowly scrap the rest (e.g. excessive self and other criticism). 🙂
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Nice shots!
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Thanks, Eliza. Wading birds seem more obliging for photographers than the little brown jobs. 🙂
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