This has been cropped, about 50%. I have tried and tried to get close enough to get a good shot of this guy. I’ve chased it from one side of the ponds to another (not on purpose–he just always seems to be hiding where I am going). Sometimes, I see it before it sees me. Other times, it’s in the air before I can bring up the camera.
When I see it first, I sometimes will drop to my belly and crawl towards it. Or if it’s high, like here, I will take tiny steps ever closer. I managed to cover a lot of distance for this shot–just not quite enough to get a really fantastic shot. Still, good enough for the daily photo.
Night herons are freaking awesome birds, by the way. Fun fact: Young Black-crowned Night-Herons often disgorge their stomach contents when disturbed. This habit makes it easy to study its diet.
I love night herons. I’ve seen them here along the river a few times. Once there was one perched on a branch right outside my bedroom window. Someday I’ll manage to get a picture of one too.
Won’t be as good as yours, since I don’t have the equipment, but I’d be happy just to get one or two for me.
Thanks, Jaime. I’m sure you can take as good or better pictures with practice. It’s 50% luck, if not more.