Its A Green Heron Sheila!!!!!

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited February 1, 2010 in Wildlife
Hi Y'all,

I was at the wetlands the other day I found this green heron. It was in hunting mode and repeating its routine where it would go along the edge of the cell from my left to my right and then retrace its path.

I waited for the heron to be at end of its route and I moved carefully into a position about midway through its route. I then sat there for about half an hour just observing the heron. As soon as it seemed to have determined that I wasn't a threat I started to grab some captures.

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770158792_7dQru-XL.jpg

[770158218_snFZZ-XL.jpg

The only problem I was running into was that the heron was too close to me and I had too much reach for a lot of the captures. I ended up with a lot of "Ben" captures like this one. :bash

770182147_Xap9w-XL.jpg

I had now been sitting ther e for an hour and a half and I decided to go back to my car and put my 70-200 2.8 on the D3 instead of the 300mm I was using. I did that and waited for the heron to get to the end of its route before I returned to my position.

At this point a number of other photographers had passed me and taken some pics but they had the courtesy of not getting closer to the heron than I was.

Well, this one idiot comes along sees the heron and comes to a sudden stop. He exits his car, slams the door, and runs down to the edge of the cell in front of me. He takes a number of shots while I looked for a handy rock to club him with and amazingly enough the heron did not take off. Until the idiot turns around and yells "ITS A GREEN HERON SHEILA"!!!

Adios, green heron it was fun while it lasted. :pissed

As for the idiot and Sheila this capture pretty well expresses my feelings.
770157052_5Le5y-XL.jpg
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"

Comments

  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2010
    2 things came immediately to mind:

    1. Where's a Gator when ya need one :food
    2. I really like that "Ben" shot rolleyes1.gif

    Well yeah maybe 3

    Excellent post Harry ylsuper.gif
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2010
    Some nice greenies, Harry!

    Now dom't make fun of the aussies! rolleyes1.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2010
    Fantastic set, Harry!

    I was about 150' west of you concentrating on some Common Yellowthroats. I was one of the ones passing you just as you were getting ready to change your lens. I missed the idiot and Sheila thank god, for it took a good 45 min. for that little bird to come out in the open allowing me some shots.
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2010
    lots of Sheilas in LA you are lucky you got the time you did ,you should have given him a little nug so he could be closer . Very nice capturesthumb.gif well all but ONE deal.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • johncaroljohncarol Registered Users Posts: 11 Big grins
    edited January 21, 2010
    Very nice Harry
    great shots, and I hear you. Was getting some spoonies working towards me real close when running down the path comes this lady yelling "look look spoonbills and they are really close", bye bye spoonbill. Then she tells me my clicker thing is really loud. (her husband was bigger than me)
  • bhowdybhowdy Registered Users Posts: 658 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2010
    Harry - First of all ... Great photos! Why would we expect anything less?

    Now for the inconsiderate folks .. Many of us have been there ... You would probably not like Cades Cove in the GSMNP, just for that reason. So many wonderful moments lost to the touristas and their cell phone cameras ... I have started to carry a rock with me at all times, just for the situations that you experienced! :D
    ________________

    Bob
    Maryville, TN.

    http://bhowdy.smugmug.com/
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2010
    Harry, you haven't changed a bit lol3.gif
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2010
    bfjr wrote:
    2 things came immediately to mind:

    1. Where's a Gator when ya need one :food
    2. I really like that "Ben" shot rolleyes1.gif

    Well yeah maybe 3

    Excellent post Harry ylsuper.gif

    Thanks Ben and I figured that you would appreciate that capture.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2010
    Some nice greenies, Harry!

    Now dom't make fun of the aussies! rolleyes1.gif

    Thanks Glenn. If we can't make fun of the Aussies we would only have Kiwis to tease.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2010
    IraRunyan wrote:
    Fantastic set, Harry!

    I was about 150' west of you concentrating on some Common Yellowthroats. I was one of the ones passing you just as you were getting ready to change your lens. I missed the idiot and Sheila thank god, for it took a good 45 min. for that little bird to come out in the open allowing me some shots.

    Thanks Ira, its getting harder and harder to do potography there with all these civilians running around unescorted.

    You must have seen the fish kill that day. I saw it in a number of cells and the click ponds. Have you heard what caused it?
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • IraRunyanIraRunyan Registered Users Posts: 1,013 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2010
    Harryb wrote:
    Thanks Ira, its getting harder and harder to do potography there with all these civilians running around unescorted.

    You must have seen the fish kill that day. I saw it in a number of cells and the click ponds. Have you heard what caused it?

    I had made the assumption that the fish kill was the result of the back to back freezes. On many of those mornings, the surface of the water in the cells was covered with ice. Little fish died first then the larger weakened fish died days later.
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2010
    "Sheila! You married an anus!"rolleyes1.gif

    Exceptional images, Harry, with the first being my pick. thumb.gif
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2010
    jwear wrote:
    lots of Sheilas in LA you are lucky you got the time you did ,you should have given him a little nug so he could be closer . Very nice capturesthumb.gif well all but ONE deal.gif

    Thanks Jeff and I agree about that one capture. It was pretty terrible.

    I wanted to give that dude something all right but be moved away too fast.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2010
    johncarol wrote:
    great shots, and I hear you. Was getting some spoonies working towards me real close when running down the path comes this lady yelling "look look spoonbills and they are really close", bye bye spoonbill. Then she tells me my clicker thing is really loud. (her husband was bigger than me)

    Great hearing from you John. wave.gif

    The best thing about being retired is that I can shoot on weekdays. The weekdays at the wetlands aren't crowded and you have less civilians wandering around. It was great before the fixed the roads. The roads used to be so bad that only the fanatics would drive on them.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Mark EdellMark Edell Registered Users Posts: 672 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2010
    Wow, harry! Outstanding set of images. Even the one with the cut off head looks good. rolleyes1.gif Doesn't that just break your heart when you spend all your time and money getting "just a little closer" and then this happens. :D
  • DsrtVWDsrtVW Registered Users Posts: 1,991 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2010
    It really sucks when 300mm is to much, if that would be the problem all the time.:D
    Beautiful shots Harry. I am lucky too, my work allows me to take side trips to my favorite haunts during the week. Though there is some entertainment value on the weekends when the crowds come out. I like to sit back and watch sometimes at the more popular places. Most of the times I avoid it but if the weather is right.ne_nau.gif
    Chris K. NANPA Member
    http://kadvantage.smugmug.com/
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited January 24, 2010
    Nice set Harry (well, apart from one :D)

    well, with the ozzies and the kiwis, I'm glad you left the seffricans out of the loop rolleyes1.gif
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2010
    Great post and shots Harry clap.gifrolleyes1.gifclap.gif
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2010
    bhowdy wrote:
    Harry - First of all ... Great photos! Why would we expect anything less?

    Now for the inconsiderate folks .. Many of us have been there ... You would probably not like Cades Cove in the GSMNP, just for that reason. So many wonderful moments lost to the touristas and their cell phone cameras ... I have started to carry a rock with me at all times, just for the situations that you experienced! :D

    Thanks Bob. I've just about given up on going out on weekends because of the cell phone camera crowd. Its not just the lost photo ops but too many folks don't think about their impact on the wildlife.

    This green heron was having a productive time obtaining necessary food for its survival. We just had a major fish kill at the wetlands due probably to our cold spell so food isn't abundant. Its hunting and feeding was disrupted because of an idiot's thoughtlessness.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2010
    Andy wrote:
    Harry, you haven't changed a bit lol3.gif

    And why would I change? :confused

    I have come to the conclusion that there are two types of people in this world.

    The ones who have annoyed me and the rest who are just waiting for their first opportunity to annoy me. :rambo
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Nikonic1Nikonic1 Registered Users Posts: 684 Major grins
    edited January 26, 2010
    The last picture and caption had me rolleyes1.gifroflrolleyes1.gifroflrolleyes1.gif

    Awesome series.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 27, 2010
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    "Sheila! You married an anus!"rolleyes1.gif

    Exceptional images, Harry, with the first being my pick. thumb.gif

    Thanks Ric and Sheila sure did screw up the quality control when she made her choice.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Daver2112Daver2112 Registered Users Posts: 157 Major grins
    edited January 28, 2010
    clap.gif Lovely series of images!
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited January 29, 2010
    lol3.gif Great set of shots Harry! That first shot really grabbed my attention. The thread of comments made me laugh too, for some reason.
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 30, 2010
    Mark Edell wrote:
    Wow, harry! Outstanding set of images. Even the one with the cut off head looks good. rolleyes1.gif Doesn't that just break your heart when you spend all your time and money getting "just a little closer" and then this happens. :D



    Thanks Mark. While the conclusion was a mite irksome the whole time I spent with the green heron was outstanding. I didn't get the exact capture I wanted to get but the time spent observing the greenie will benefit me in the future. Also I would have enjoyed it even if I did not have a camera with me.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2010
    DsrtVW wrote:
    It really sucks when 300mm is to much, if that would be the problem all the time.:D
    Beautiful shots Harry. I am lucky too, my work allows me to take side trips to my favorite haunts during the week. Though there is some entertainment value on the weekends when the crowds come out. I like to sit back and watch sometimes at the more popular places. Most of the times I avoid it but if the weather is right.ne_nau.gif

    Its rough with those darn birds getting too close. :cry
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2010
    BigAl wrote:
    Nice set Harry (well, apart from one :D)

    well, with the ozzies and the kiwis, I'm glad you left the seffricans out of the loop rolleyes1.gif


    Thanks Al and I am fair about my kidding. I try to include all nations equally.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2010
    dlplumer wrote:
    Great post and shots Harry clap.gifrolleyes1.gifclap.gif

    Thanks Dan.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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