<< Previous Next >>

Great Blue Heron


Great Blue Heron
Photo Information
Copyright: Muhammad Shaukat (shaukatmi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 392 W: 219 N: 861] (3659)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-07
Categories: Nature
Camera: Sony Alpha 100 Digital SLR, Sony 18-70
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-11 9:22
Viewed: 188
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England. An all-white Caribbean population was once known as a separate species, the Great White Heron.

The largest North American heron, with a head-to-tail length of 91–140 cm (36-55 in), a wingspan of 167-201 cm (66-79 in), and a weight of 2–3.6 kg (4.4-8 lbs), it is blue-gray overall, with black flight feathers, red-brown thighs, and a paired red-brown and black stripe up the flanks; the neck is rusty-gray, with black and white streaking down the front; the head is paler, with a nearly white face, and a pair of black plumes running from just above the eye to the back of the head. The feathers on the lower neck are long and plume-like; it also has plumes on the lower back at the start of the breeding season. The bill is dull yellowish, becoming orange briefly at the start of the breeding season, and the lower legs gray, also becoming orangey at the start of the breeding season. Immature birds are duller in color, with a dull blackish-gray crown, and the flank pattern only weakly defined; they have no plumes, and the bill is dull gray-yellow.[3][4][5]


Tracks in mudThe heron stride is around 22 cm (9 in), almost in a straight line. Two of the three front toes are generally closer together. In a track the front toes as well as the back often show the small talons.[6]

The subspecies differ only slightly in size and plumage tone, with the exception of subspecies occidentalis, which as well as normal colored birds, also has a distinct white morph, known as the Great White Heron (not to be confused with the Great Egret, for which "Great White Heron" was once a common name). It is found only in south Florida and some parts of the Caribbean. The Great White Heron differs from other Great Blues in bill morphology, head plume length, and in having a total lack of pigment in its plumage. This is mainly found near salt water, and was long thought to be a separate species. Birds intermediate between the normal morph and the white morph are known as Würdemann's Heron; these birds resemble a "normal" Great Blue with a white head.
Fortuna, tanburi, jjcordier, HienVy, deains has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To alexa: "Critique" 47GreenBaron 1 07-13 13:34
To tanburi: thanks.shaukatmi 1 07-11 13:51
To rychem: Thank you.shaukatmi 1 07-11 13:51
To Farukmey: thanks.shaukatmi 1 07-11 13:51
To akg: Thanks.shaukatmi 1 07-11 13:50
To harpya: Thank you.shaukatmi 1 07-11 13:48
To Fortuna: Thanks.shaukatmi 1 07-11 13:47
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Dear Muhammad,

Excellent photogrph of this beautiful Heron!
I like very much the out of focus BG and the colors! Very nice frame!
Congratulations and TFS
Sergio

Ciao Muhammad,


Ahhh, this is a great portrait of this majestic bird!
The grandeur comes well through in the image,
and the details in the plumage are simply impressive...
Lovely colour palette in a carefully planned composition!
Greetings,

Sergio

  • Great 
  • akg Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 169 W: 0 N: 85] (1028)
  • [2009-07-11 10:33]
  • [+]

Salam Muhammad!
this is a great capture. A majestic pose of the big bird and the light falling on it that I like.

Warm regards,
abhijit.

Selam Muhammad

Excellent captured
Interesting bird.
Well done
Regards

Faruk

Hello Muhammad,
Clear well composed image, good using of light on head and feathers
TFS
Selahattin E

Hello,
imposing bird, excellent shot
regards
Ryszard

Hello!
Excellent,clear well composed image,good sharpness and lovely colours.
Interesting bird.
Greetings
Tadeusz

Muhammad,
Très belle prise avec une judicieuse utilisation de la lumière en contrejour qui souligne le bec et le plumage de l'oiseau.
Amicalement
JJ

Hi Muhammad,
Great portrait of this cute heron.Nice lighting, colours and details.TFS.
Regards,

hAyAti

Hi Muhammad
Thank you for sharing this beautiful picture of the Great Blue Heron. You captured her eye perfectly. I also like the sun shined on her.
Best regards
Hien Vy

  •      
  • alexa Silver Star Critiquer [C: 15 W: 0 N: 0] (28)
  • [2009-07-13 13:27]
  • [+]

Super image wonderful lighting great detail super composition
Alexa

  • Great 
  • vanda Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 245 W: 0 N: 253] (1730)
  • [2009-07-16 9:13]

Hello Muhammad,
very good shot.Perfect light and good frame.
Regards.
Vanda

  • Great 
  • deains Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 189 W: 33 N: 1172] (5041)
  • [2009-10-18 12:20]

What a great photo of the Blue Heron, well done!! Nice show of the neck plume. I am envious, I have tried to photograph them here but cannot get close enough to one. Thanks much for commenting on my Fall Colors. All your work looks very good TFS! :} Don

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF