by Rose Hill
Member since:
January 11, 2007

Cuddling Blue Heron Photos - Nesting - Spring is in the Air!

February 20, 2010 06:26 PM UTC
views: 0 | 22 people recommend this | comments: 50

I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for spring to arrive. Earlier this week I went to the beach for a few practice shots with my new camera. I found the perfect photo opportunity watching great blue herons building their nest.

The biggest challenge was to find a good spot for photographing the action without spooking the birds, but still get close enough for a decent shot. This was also my first attempt at using my new telephoto lens, a Nikkor 70-300mm VR - click here for a detailed lens review - yay, I couldn't be happier with the results.

 

 

The Great Blue Heron

is a strikingly handsome and regal looking bird.

 

 

 

Great Blue Herons live in Florida year round,

they nest in colonies,

 in treetops near the water or over open water.

 

 

Male and female look alike,

 they both work on building the nest, share the incubating duties

and take turns feeding their young.

 

 

 

I think they look gorgeous no matter how you photograph them.

 

By the way, I didn't suddenly get smart about birds,

but I picked up a great little field guide called

Birds of Florida

www.adventurepublications.net

 

You can tell that the author Stan Tekiela is a photographer,

because the photos are fabulous and really helpful

when you want to do a quick check as to what bird just wandered in front of your lens. 

 

 

 

There were about three heron pairs from what I could see,

but not all were building a nest.

 

One of them was up in a tree preening. If he looks familiar it's

because I posted a photo of him/her preening

 in my photo gallery here on gather.

 

 

It was amazing to watch all the nest building activity.

 

I tried my luck with an occasional close up,

but those herons kept a weary eye on me, always on the move and hard to keep up with. 

 

 

 

 

I saved the best for last ..........

 

A pair of great blue herons cuddling

  

How sweet it is ...

 ... birdie love ...

 ... spring is in the air! 

All images © 2010 Rose H.

 

Thanks for looking - have a great weekend!  

Comments: 50

Pam S. Feb 20, 2010, 6:28pm UTC
Amazing shots, Rose.
j - Frugal Mom - r. Feb 20, 2010, 6:29pm UTC
Your photos are fantastic Rose. They are so clear, crisp and very well composed. It actually felt a bit like spring today didn't it? It's Sky's b day on March 1st, and he is definitely expecting a beach trip or trip to the water park, so the weather and the water better heat up fast.
RedBird. B. Feb 20, 2010, 6:39pm UTC
Rose! These are All Great Photo's. I espically like the Photo of the Two-Herrings who are
indiscriminately Necking!
Vivian P. Feb 20, 2010, 6:49pm UTC
it is and they are starting to nest around here

great shots
Dave W. Feb 20, 2010, 7:01pm UTC
Rose, Fantastic Posting! Enjoyed reading it and the photos are awesome!
Barbara H. Feb 20, 2010, 7:17pm UTC
Eye the shot, catch the shot, frame the shot, essay the shots and present. My goodness such glorious photography. Perfect in every way.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Feb 20, 2010, 7:31pm UTC
I have to get over to the nesting area near us to see if the egrets and herons have started yet. I thought it was too early because it is so cold, but maybe not. I know our pond has had a lot of activity between the return of the geese and the local ducks.
Your photos are magnificent, I'm sitting here oohing and awing wishing I had seen this for myself.
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Feb 20, 2010, 7:37pm UTC
Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
Rose Hill Feb 20, 2010, 8:51pm UTC
I think I'll try my luck at Sawgrass Lake Park next week and see what I can do with my new lens.
marie Pinschmidt Feb 20, 2010, 7:34pm UTC
Rose, these are the best heron photos I've ever seen. Just splendid.
Rose Hill Feb 20, 2010, 8:49pm UTC
Thank you ever so much, Marie - good to see you:)
Sherrie H. Feb 20, 2010, 8:18pm UTC
These are just spectacular.
Rose Hill Feb 20, 2010, 8:54pm UTC
Thank you, Sherrie:)
Madame Donna C. Feb 20, 2010, 8:44pm UTC
Beautiful collection of photos, Rose.
Rose Hill Feb 20, 2010, 8:56pm UTC
Thanks, I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw the pic of the pair on my computer screen, I had no idea.
JoAnn C. Feb 20, 2010, 9:09pm UTC
wonderful photos as always. I love the last one.
Magnificent...wonderful pictures and loved the commentary...
Marsha C. Feb 20, 2010, 10:46pm UTC
wonderful photos!!

I hope someday to get a better camera.....
Ruthi C. Feb 20, 2010, 10:53pm UTC
Photos are excellent all, tho' my favorite is the 5th pic from the top. Great essay Rose!
Ruthi C. Feb 20, 2010, 10:54pm UTC
...smiles...
Thank you for adding Nuttin' But Sunshine to -- Sun Bespeckled Ink!
This is now Featured!
Rose Hill Feb 20, 2010, 11:04pm UTC
Thank you so much, Ruthi - I apreciate the feature.
Ruthi C. Feb 20, 2010, 11:19pm UTC
You're quite welcome m'dear...you earned it..:-)
Stacey Mamasaid Feb 20, 2010, 11:07pm UTC
Rose, your talent continues to amaze me! Your photos bring the heron to LIFE.

I thought of you today...I was shooting pics at the beach and met another woman doing the same...turns out she only lives a block away ;) Many of us enjoy the surf but you REALLY capture it, Rose!
Rose Hill Feb 21, 2010, 9:01am UTC
Thanks Stacey - it's funny how through gather we start becoming involved in activities we would have never dreamed of.
Sassy *bacon makes me happy* Cat Feb 21, 2010, 1:42am UTC
I'm ready for spring! haha! It's supposed to snow another 10 inches here Monday. *sigh*

Wow! awesome photos! They belong on the pages of magazines!
Rose Hill Feb 21, 2010, 9:04am UTC
10 more inches? Lucky you - not! Florida at least my area has been 20 degrees below the average temp - we should be in the 70s we've barely been in the 50s.
DIANE D. Feb 21, 2010, 8:52am UTC
How beautiful, Rose. They have yet to return here.
Rose Hill Feb 21, 2010, 9:20pm UTC
They will, spring is coming eventually:)
Ann Marcaida Feb 21, 2010, 10:15am UTC
Awww... herons cuddling. Almost a contradiction in terms. (Have you seen how ugly their chicks are?)

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Best. Now featured.
Rose Hill Feb 21, 2010, 9:20pm UTC
Ann - thank you so much! Haven't seen any chicks yet, not sure if I can get close enough with my camera for a pic either.
Some birdies are so ugly it's hilarious and that makes them cute again:)
Marianne R. Feb 21, 2010, 11:11am UTC
Great shots. It's a few weeks too early for nesting here. Maybe March sometime. Do you use a tripod?
Rose Hill Feb 21, 2010, 9:13pm UTC
No, I don't have a tripod, Marianne. I intend to get one eventually - any tips on which one to get?
Kat W. Feb 21, 2010, 11:57am UTC
Beautiful shots, Rose. I'm looking forward to seeing the wading birds in their breeding plumage around here.

Thank you for posting your photo at Pretty Pictures.
Rose Hill Feb 21, 2010, 9:16pm UTC
Oh Kat I saw one today - just the most beautiful guy. I could have cried the camera blurred the bird and the water and leaves were sharp as a tack.
You know I'm going back ...
Tracy Fabre Feb 21, 2010, 2:05pm UTC
Excellent, excellent photos -- I love herons, despite their general crankiness, and these are wonderful close-ups.
Rose Hill Feb 21, 2010, 9:21pm UTC
Ya - they do seem to have an attitude or birdietude:)
Gary (The Eclectic) Timothy Feb 22, 2010, 6:45pm UTC
Extraordinary collection of beautiful photos! And I agree, the Great Blue Heron is a handsome, very striking, and regal bird! :-)

But I have to say, that I had to chase one away from the small pond I dug by hand some years ago because he decimated the sunfish and minnows I had stocked the pond with. I hated to do it, but I put a lot of work into that pond and had to start all over again with stocking it.
Gary (The Eclectic) Timothy Feb 22, 2010, 6:47pm UTC
For him (or her), it was like spearing fish in a barrel - no challenge at all. Obviously an easy set of meals for it.
Rose Hill Feb 23, 2010, 10:08am UTC
Yes, I have a neighbor with a koi fish pond and he's not fond of those water birds stopping by for dinner either. I think he has a fish net or some such thing now.
Katrina Hall Feb 23, 2010, 2:02pm UTC
Stunning photo essay, Rose - just amazingly beautiful!
Nurse Nancy S. Feb 23, 2010, 5:59pm UTC
Rose, they are beautiful. You did a spectacular job.
Svetlana Goryacheva Feb 24, 2010, 1:16pm UTC
Gorgeous, just gorgeous! :-) Bravo, dear Rose!

Blessings and best wishes - S.
elizabeth evans Feb 25, 2010, 8:59pm UTC
You know how I love herons....excellent photo/essay.


Featured in Angels on Pillows.
elizabeth evans Feb 27, 2010, 8:29pm UTC
Came back to look once more...that lens really works well...BUT you have the EYE. Incredible composition in most of these images. Love the color...crisp....such clarity.
elizabeth evans Feb 27, 2010, 8:30pm UTC
Love the last photo.
Rose Hill Mar 12, 2010, 11:17am UTC
Yes the last photo is definitely a stunner - I was just thrilled the moment I saw it up on screen.

THANK YOU for the feature, Bob - much appreciated:)
amy s. Mar 2, 2010, 12:34pm UTC
cute picture of the blue herron
Jennifer Neff Apr 28, 2010, 7:05pm UTC
Gorgeous collection of photos, Rose!
Cathi L. Oct 16, 2010, 6:18pm UTC
This is an incredible photo essay, Rose. You're pictures are incredible! Thank you for sharing this! :)
♥ Christine aka stine1 ♥ Nov 27, 2011, 5:17am UTC
For commenting on "Who needs some Fairy Point Dust?" you have won some of it. Congratulations :-)

Who needs some Fairy Point Dust?

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