Bittern fever, catch it!

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited March 30, 2008 in Wildlife
Hi Y'all,

One of the toughest subjects I've dealt with is the least bittern. They are the smallest of the heron family being between 11-14 inches and weighing 2-3.5 ounces. With its small size it also is a very furtive bird which almost never comes out into the open. In the past four years I've been able to get qucik shots of them maybe 3-4 times.

This is my usual view of a least bittern.
268981082_ySPXS-L.jpg

Well that all chnaged last Tuesday when Nancy (Flygirl) and I found three bitterns in the open and they hung around for a few hours. I ended up getting over 500 shots of them. All shots with the D3 and the Nikon 500mm f/4 and the 300mm f/4 + 1.7 TC at ISO 2000

268981118_TYuMC-XL.jpg

268980636_aJqF2-XL.jpg

268980796_byRth-XL.jpg

268981019_4VsXv-XL.jpg

268981032_gwS2B-XL.jpg

268981065_7dcnF-XL.jpg

268981248_wEzBj-XL.jpg

268980893_xkaE5-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

  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2008
    Perfect!

    I love they way they grip with their feet!

    Nice shots Harry,

    Z
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • Jim TJim T Registered Users Posts: 211 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2008
    Man Harry,

    Those shots of the neck strech and going in for the kill made me saw wow so loud my wife came in the room to see what I was looking atmwink.gif!

    As always very nice work!thumb.gif I am coming down to visit my folks next spring. They are near Clewiston by Okechoobe (sorry spelling). When I say see my folks I really just plan to follow you around to see how you do it!bowdown.gifbowdown.gifbowdown.gif
    Jim Toth

    www.jimt.smugmug.com
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2008
    Pretty cool. I didn't have much luck spotting these guys at MIV..even with 8-10 other eyes trying to guide mine in the correct direction. :D Well done Harry.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • kgarrett11kgarrett11 Registered Users Posts: 525 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2008
    I'm trying to think of another word to use since WOW has already been used. These are awesome. Put great equipment in the hands of a real photographer and this is what happens.clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif
    www.Prideinphotography.com
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  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited March 25, 2008
    what great luck Harry, good for you. Fantastic capturesclap.gif :ivar wings.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    Hi Y'all,
    268981065_7dcnF-S.jpg
    My pick from this set

    and I guess the ISO issue is now finally a dead one :wow
    Benjamin
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  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    Super Harry thumb.gif It's a lot like our Lesser Bittern - and I've had just as many problems trying to get them in the lens. When I did get them in the open, they were too far away :cry
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  • jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    I like that one too! That bird looks like spiderman by the way it moves and supports itself.
    www.jonimages.com
  • eL eSs VeeeL eSs Vee Registered Users Posts: 1,243 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    Fantastic! Hard to choose, but the fourth one is my favorite! Beautiful work!
    Lee
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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    Awesome series. Some of those actions shots are just spectacular and very impressive considering how shy these birds are!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    Zanotti wrote:
    Perfect!

    I love they way they grip with their feet!

    Nice shots Harry,

    Z


    Thanks Z. While I was processing the images it was the feet that really caught my attention. The bittern's feet are just about perfect for its environment and for its hunting activities.
    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 March 26, 2008
    Jim T wrote:
    Man Harry,

    Those shots of the neck strech and going in for the kill made me saw wow so loud my wife came in the room to see what I was looking atmwink.gif!

    As always very nice work!thumb.gif I am coming down to visit my folks next spring. They are near Clewiston by Okechoobe (sorry spelling). When I say see my folks I really just plan to follow you around to see how you do it!bowdown.gifbowdown.gifbowdown.gif

    Thanks Jim and I'll see you next spring.
    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 March 26, 2008
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    Pretty cool. I didn't have much luck spotting these guys at MIV..even with 8-10 other eyes trying to guide mine in the correct direction. :D Well done Harry.

    Thanks Mike and I have a very hard time spotting them too.
    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!"
  • jdmphotojdmphoto Registered Users Posts: 159 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    Outstanding! I see hard work and persistence pays off.bowdown.gif
    See my photo's athttp://jdmphoto.smugmug.com/

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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 26, 2008
    kgarrett11 wrote:
    I'm trying to think of another word to use since WOW has already been used. These are awesome. Put great equipment in the hands of a real photographer and this is what happens.clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif

    Thanks very much Keith.
    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 March 26, 2008
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    what great luck Harry, good for you. Fantastic capturesclap.gif :ivar wings.gif



    Thanks Dave it was an interesting time. First there was a photo workshop of German photographers there and around 10 of them came over and set up their tripods and started shooting away.

    I had to switch from my 500mm to my 300mm and 1.7 TC to get the mobility to shoot around and through the Germans. I'm still don't know how ten Germans found out about the Viera Wetlands.

    After the Germnas moved on I got my bean bag out and took some more shots with my 500mm while stretched out on the ground (not so easy at my age anymore).

    I had to avoid the fire ant hills (the whole place is infested with those SOBs) and then I had this little fella hanging out a few feet away.
    268973440_wCwjD-XL.jpg

    For some unknown reasons, unlike every other gator I ran into, it wasn't bothered by humans and instead of hightailing it into the water it stayed put. I almost stepped on it a couple of times.
    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 March 27, 2008
    bfjr wrote:
    My pick from this set

    and I guess the ISO issue is now finally a dead one :wow

    Thanks Ben and with the D3 ISO is prety much a dead issue.
    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!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited March 27, 2008
    rolleyes1.gifI've got the fever...now if I only had some Bitterns to shoot!

    Fine set of images, Harry. thumb.gif

    This one is a 9.9!

    268981065_7dcnF-L.jpg
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 27, 2008
    BigAl wrote:
    Super Harry thumb.gif It's a lot like our Lesser Bittern - and I've had just as many problems trying to get them in the lens. When I did get them in the open, they were too far away :cry

    Thanks Al and your image is my usual view of those suckers. They have been coming out a tad lately in Viera and I figure I'd better get as many captures again because I don't expect it to last.
    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 March 27, 2008
    jonh68 wrote:
    I like that one too! That bird looks like spiderman by the way it moves and supports itself.

    Thanks Jon. It was fascinating to see the bittern manuever htrough the reeds using those amazing feet of his/hers.
    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 March 27, 2008
    eL eSs Vee wrote:
    Fantastic! Hard to choose, but the fourth one is my favorite! Beautiful work!

    Thank you Lee, that's one of my favorites too
    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 March 27, 2008
    Maestro wrote:
    Awesome series. Some of those actions shots are just spectacular and very impressive considering how shy these birds are!

    Thanks Stephen, I don't know what made them drop their stealth mode I'm just lucky I was there when they did.
    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!"
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited March 27, 2008
    this set does make me a little bitter eek7.gif:D
    Jeff W

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

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 28, 2008
    jdmphoto wrote:
    Outstanding! I see hard work and persistence pays off.bowdown.gif

    Thnak you, if you go out often enough sooner or later you will see something fascinating.
    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 March 28, 2008
    jwear wrote:
    this set does make me a little bitter eek7.gif:D

    :lol

    Thanks Jeff
    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!"
  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited March 28, 2008
    Nice going Harry.
    I know what a bugger they are to shoot.
    Nice shots.

    I woke up to SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 28, 2008
    Gale wrote:
    Nice going Harry.
    I know what a bugger they are to shoot.
    Nice shots.

    I woke up to SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Thanks Gale it was just luck that we were there when they decided to come out.

    No one should have to wake up to snow. I think there's something in the Constitution about that.
    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!"
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited March 30, 2008
    Excellent work Harry! clap.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
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