Some birds seem to explode out of the water when they are taking off, but Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) often seem to gently lift off with almost no splash at all. The Great Blue Heron at Huntley Meadows Park were really active early yesterday morning, frequently flying from one location to another. They seemed to be more intent on socializing with each other than with finding food. In a future post, I’ll look more closely at that behavior, which might be related to courting, but today I’m focusing on one heron’s gentle liftoff.
I’ve watched herons take off hundreds of times, but this is one of the first times that I have been able to capture the moment of liftoff from the water. In this little sequence of three images, you can see the heron rising up, leaving the water, and gradually gaining altitude. The stillness of the early morning helped create some wonderful reflections, a nice bonus that adds some additional visual interest to the images.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Wow!
Birds in flight are one of the most difficult things to achieve, getting speed right and avoiding the blur effect upon the water’s… well done.
Thanks, Roger. There is some skill involved and a lot of practice, but the most important factor in this kind of photography is a healthy dose of luck. There are so many variables involved that you can’t control and you often get only a single chance.
That reminds me of a photo I took of a fox, laying in the undergrowth, waiting for that moment, and once the flash fired he was gone, but I had got my shot…
We live for moments like that. Of course,we all also have stories of “the ones that got away.” when we waited and waited and when the decisive moment came, we missed the shot.
Great shots, Mike!
Thanks, Dan. Herons are really good practice for shots of birds in flight, because they are big and fly slowly. I’m hoping to get some equally good shots when migrating ducks show up.
Magnificent images!
Thanks, Laura.
Beautiful capture Mike! Patience pays off.
Thanks, Ed. I tend to be both patient and persistent and shoot the same subjects over and over, striving to be different, better shots over time.
Completely elegant, Mike. Each one, a work of art. The true essence of the Great Blue Heron.
Thanks, Jet. Even in flight herons seem a little more awkward to me than egrets. I was definitely thrilled when I saw the photos for the first time. It is rare that I get a burst that captures the action so well.
Wonderful! 😊
What a great sequence, Mike, Very well done! Birds in flight are always exciting.
Just amazing Mike – how great to have such still water
Thanks, Diana. It seems like the water is almost always that still in the early morning, which makes for some awesome reflections.
You are obviously so good at your research
Beautiful birds! We have quiet a few on the reservoir near our home but I never get tired of looking at them.
Thanks. I too never get tired of watching the herons at my local marshland park. Unlike the egrets and green herons that have left for warmer regions, the Great Blue Herons stay with us all winter.
Your second image belongs in a gallery dedicated to wildlife photography. This is one of my favorites of yours.
Thanks, Gary. I like the entire sequence of shots, but definitely agree that the second one is the real winner–I’m pretty sure I am going to get that one printed.