Black-capped night heron’s often allow a close approach. This one was focused on staring at the water, waiting for just the right moment to strike. I was able to get several nice portraits from ground level, before backing off and allowing the staring contest to continue. Photographed at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island in Florida. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 240mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/500th of a second.
They are a funny looking bird, depending on the angle & lighting conditions. Sometimes they assume a kind of hunched attitude, not unlike kingfishers I have met. They are fairly easy to I.D. as they fly overhead. That red eye is spectacular to behold, along with the tassels that hang over their backs from their heads. In a stiff wind, observers can catch the tassels briefly standing straight up. They are fun to watch – regal mixed with comical. We have lots in our area of northern CA. Just a few days ago I got lucky & photographed a great blue heron, a couple of great egrets & a few black-crowned night herons in the same bay side scene. Can’t remember a time I saw 3 different heron species enjoying a beautiful still morning in near proximity to one another. Love the low angle you managed to capture in this shot, Sean!
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So cool how the foreground and background are both out of focus. That bird is one bad mofo!
They are a funny looking bird, depending on the angle & lighting conditions. Sometimes they assume a kind of hunched attitude, not unlike kingfishers I have met. They are fairly easy to I.D. as they fly overhead. That red eye is spectacular to behold, along with the tassels that hang over their backs from their heads. In a stiff wind, observers can catch the tassels briefly standing straight up. They are fun to watch – regal mixed with comical. We have lots in our area of northern CA. Just a few days ago I got lucky & photographed a great blue heron, a couple of great egrets & a few black-crowned night herons in the same bay side scene. Can’t remember a time I saw 3 different heron species enjoying a beautiful still morning in near proximity to one another. Love the low angle you managed to capture in this shot, Sean!