I just went with the flow on these shots.
There was mud, brown water, and horrible light. The Great Blue Heron was so peaceful I wanted the images. Added exposure, and who knew the bird would appear so nicely.
Old back rice fields along the Ashley, Magnolia Plantation, South Carolina.
Shot a few mornings ago, when Herons were plentiful again.
Great Blue Heron.
The swamp rookeries are pretty empty now. To find anything now it’s out to the marshes. That means walking, mud, and carrying minimal ‘stuff’. For me that means no big lens.
The good news was we found things other than Alligators. Thinking about it I noticed only one mid sized head all morning.
Great Blue Heron.
The Little Blue have a slow and methodical way of looking for prey. Some of the other Heron dance and run, most of the time the small Blue’s go slow and steady.
This bird worked the small swamp by drifting along on the edge. He caught a few small ‘thingies’ but nothing I could really see.
On a terrible morning for photography this Black-crowned Night Heron sat and posed over the swamp waters. He gave more enough time to change my settings…a lot.
Not ideal conditions to be out in a swamp. Especially since we could hear the thunder getting closer.
I didn’t stay long but did get a few shots before the weather arrived. Storms are much more ‘interesting’ here than up in New England.
The other day while out shooting Spoonbills in the Live Oaks I kept looking for the Night Herons that live here. This is a rookery for the small Herons.
Never did find any, I did spot this Green Heron in an Oak. At first I assumed this was a Night Heron but Ellen had a better view and updated me.
I had heard Green Herons were around, however I have not so this might be my first one of the year around home.
I’m not sure I can call this an island, the swampy pond isn’t all that big, the dry land in the middle just reeds, brush, and stunted trees. However, below is a Great Blue on the edge of the ‘island’, poking around for a treat.
I didn’t see him catch anything but I’m sure he eventually found something.
