Night Heron

[Bobobird]

Black-crowned Night Heron up in a tree.

Photographed this guy a couple of days ago. He was pretty co-operative and stayed put apart from the preening.

Comments. opinions, stones etc welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for looking.


1.


2.

[jeeperman]

That second one has put you at least back to prior FX or better! Very nicely done, looks to me you are getting that combo figured out quite well, Bobo.

[Bobobird]

Thanks Paul.

He was pretty close maybe 10m and I did have a 1.4 TC on the lens.

About the camera - I suppose you are right not that I have a choice hehe.
It is a complicated beast and am just scratching the surface. One thing is I will not trade it for a 1.6 unless those start to come out with the same AF system. That "spot-in-spot" focus point is a great asset for quicky locking focus onto tiny objects like bird or bug eyes etc.

[Cantab]

Wonderful pictures! What camera are you using?

[Bobobird]

Thanks Bruce.

Camera is the 5D3.

[Otavio]

Bobo, very nice images! #2 is my preferred. Thanks for sharing.

[jprzybyla]

Wow... great images, beautiful bird. That is one bird I have not seen up close like you did. I have only seen them flying overhead, it is one elusive bird. Well done Bobo.

[Melkus]

I really love that #2 shot, well done

[escaladieu]

Nice work on #2, Bobo, well done !

J

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Bobo,

I have only seen them in zoos or similar - I don't think they are found 'wild' in UK.

Nice captures (and exposures).

#2 for me too.
That's the odd thing with birds; it is rare that a preening shot will make a better picture than a classic pose - yet it doesn't seem to be so much of a problem with mammals, etc.
You'd think it might be more interesting and yet the results (well I find) are often disappointing.
Perhaps because they can contort themselves so much while preening, it usually makes identification impossibloe for the lay person.

Cheers,

[Bobobird]

Thanks Otavio, Joe, Paul, Jeff, Dave. Appreciate the nice comments.

Preening is a good sign. It means they are comfortable with their surrounding which makes getting shots easier. Intersesting preening shots can also be had if you are at the proper angle and how large the bird is. Small birds hardly possible due to quicker movement but large ones like swans can make delightful outlines with their long necks.

[rpcrowe]

Very nice shots. Thanks for identifying the bird. I have a shot of one and, since I am not a birder, didn't have the foggiest idea what kind of bird it was...

[jamn4ex]

Bobo I think you made the right choice with that camera, I believe your bird shots have improved (4 months ago I wouldnt have thought it possible.) I really like your shots .

[Bobobird]

Thanks Richard, glad you got the ID on that one.

Thanks James.
The greater flexibility of the new camera does help. The biggest difference is probably the loss of the crop factor which forces better placement of the target within its environment.