With this flyover Grey Heron.
With birds in flight, before publishing, I always look at the focus on the claws, beak and eye. In this case I'm pretty happy with the image.
Herons are great subjects for in flight photography because of their slow, ponderous wing beats and relatively slow speed through the air.
It was nice to get the wing beat on the up exposing the flanks of the bird.
This chap was consciously hunting the reed bed margins for chicks, probably Water Rail chicks in particular as the parents of which were being quite vocal and attracting attention to themselves despite their reputation for being '' skulkers ''.
Maybe Water Rail are better at discretion than parenting ?
Stealthy and focused it was just awaiting the opportunity to strike, happily unsuccessful on this occasion.
A couple of days ago I posted an image of a rather drab grey image featuring a Grey Heron on an equally grey day.
Several viewers of the blog suggested that it would be interesting to see the image presented with different tints.
A friend of mine Graham Barker, a locally based and very keen wildlife videographer -
Graham Barker Wildlife Videographer -
Very kindly helped me out by converting the images into B & W Vignette and Sepia alternatives as my software does not have that facility.
Well, its different and not natural, but if you want to get ''Arty '', sepia gets my vote.
Sepia
This guy was virtually full frame, sadly the light was drab but technically I like this image as an in flight shot.
Eyes, wing tips and claws are the three main features that I look closely at to assess focus quality and despite the gloom I was pleased with this result.
I wonder what it would look like in black and white ?.
Whilst very wary, when they do not feel threatened there is something a bit arrogant about Grey Herons as they slowly move around, each step measured and in slow motion, calculated and premeditated as they seek a suitable target for their next meal which could be a frog, a Duckling, a vole, a mole and even a Water Rail ........ these guys are voracious.
This Grey Heron was illuminated by the setting sun bathing its under wings in glorious golden light.
I really like the eye contact in this image.
In flight shots of Grey Herons are probably some of the easiest because of their rather ponderous flight and relatively slow wing beats.
When assessing focus quality I always look very closely at the birds eyes, wing tips and where possible feet, in this case all passed my amateur test.
Normally distant, quick to take to the wing if disturbed or overhead flyovers this Grey Heron had no idea I was there in the hide and observing him.
I am not quite sure how you describe the call of a Grey Heron during the breeding season, I can only describe it as a bark !.
This fella was close to the Heronry so hopefully it will pair up and breed.
With no wind or sunshine to speak of the fog hung around the gravel pit reed beds most of Sunday.
The Phragmites and Teasels were heavily frosted and the fog served to neutralise any colour that would otherwise have shown with better light, grey, grey and grey again.
Still, the end results accurately reflect the seasonal conditions.
A less than happy looking Grey Heron on the ice.
Last Friday I posted a video of an American Great Blue Heron catching and eating a Gopher that behaviourally I found quite extraordinary.
Today in my early morning e-mail was a link from a friend to another video on U-tube which is ..... well ...... four times as extraordinary !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naElLC53tVs
So, when you are out and about and in the presence of Grey Herons away from their normal habitats near water it is worth taking a closer look at what they may be doing.
Nature never fails to amaze.
Its easy to dismiss Grey Herons as nothing really worthy of comment, but they are truly magnificent birds on the wing and when it comes to feeding themselves very inventive as portrayed in the video link below, in this case a Blue Heron in the States.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpG5lszNi_4
A strike speed like a cobra.
Whilst their habitat is very much around rural water bodies they are increasingly to be found in urban areas as was the case with this image of a Heron taking off from a neighbours roof where it had been taking an interest in their ornamental fish pond !.
I
was driving to the reserve and approaching the village of Aldwincle along a country lane when I saw something ahead and couldn't believe my eyes, standing on the nearside verge was a motionless Grey Heron intently staring at the woodland edge.
I drove past no more than four feet from it at approx thirty miles an hour and it did not flinch, I braked to a halt, readied my camera and opened the nearside door window and cautiously started to reverse along the offside carriageway, this time its nerve gave in and it was off.
Because the road at this point is surrounded by dense woodland on both sides it could not turn away nor gain altitude quickly, I was able to get out of the car pretty sharpish and just managed to fire off a few shots as it flew past.
I had a bit of a Heron day yesterday at my local reserve.
Actually it all started in the morning when I spotted this chap on one of my neighbours roofs, it was obviously taking more than a passing interest in their ornamental fish pond.
I always feel that there is something prehistoric looking about Grey Herons, they are certainly very accomplished hunters as witnessed by this guy in the States who posted the following activity of a Blue Heron on Facebook ( you may have to cut and paste the link or block out and right click ).
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204262495191468&set=vb.1500784159&type=2&theater
Anyway, with rain forecast for the weekend I decided to get out for a couple of hours, the light was great but sadly not much around bird wise except for ..... you guessed it, Grey Herons !
In flight they are ponderous and yet can change direction on the head of a pin when they spot you.
Their slow wingbeat makes them an ideal subject for honing your bird in flight skills.
My Neighbour's visitor.
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