It's that time of year GBH Breeding Plumage

[kr88]

It's that time of year when the Great Blue Herons appearance changes as it's mating season. The appearence gets very colorful, especially the face. These were captured this morning at the rookery. There were only a few there today, but they should increase in numbers as we get closer to the end of November. Here are a few.

http://www.pbase.com/kr88/image/69651214.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/kr88/image/69651244.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/kr88/image/69651780.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/kr88/image/69660381.jpg

I only wish that I had shot them at a lower ISO setting, I was shooting at ISO 800 the day before and when I arrived at the Venice Rookery, I grabbed the camera and started shooting..Then noticed the higher ISO....These were shot at ISO 800....:oops:

[Airedale1]

Great captures Keith, wish I was there. Is that the Venice Rookery?

[kr88]

Great captures Keith, wish I was there. Is that the Venice Rookery?

Yes these were at the Venice Rookery. They start up around this time of year and the activity will go till about March, April. The GBHs will be out in numbers by the end of the month. Should present many opportunities...:) :)

[dewmuw]

Top top shots Keith. The first one really shows off the plumage well.

[reewik]

Man I wish I was there with ya!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Wow they luck "buff"
Great shots :)

[apatchy]

Great shots keith love the 1st great pose.
We have just had our first frosts here, so its nice to see birds in their breeding plumage, its like having spring here in my room when its freezing outside. Thats the beauty of this forum you get the best of both worlds.;)

[Reyno]

Great GBH captures and a perfect pose on the first. Very well done Keith.

[nitefrogger]

All very nice in spite of the ISO. You caught them beautifully.:D

[Stephen Stephen]

Very nice shots Keith. Hopefully I'll get to Venice someday!

[cfcRebel]

AWESOME! Love the pair! Another outstanding GBH series Keith.

[Anthony J Howe]

Stunning to say the least keith, good images of the GBH, love the plumage displayed especially in the first shot, nice ones, well done.

[kr88]

Thanks guys for the comments. Hopefully they will increase in numbers soon. There were only a few pair there this time around. Later in the season there can be quite a few pair and when the chicks hatch in early Feb, the sounds of them are an amazing thing to hear. Thanks again!

[Gary Fairhead]

Beautiful looking photographs here Keith and this of a bird I am familiar with but not when they are in this state. Very beautiful!

Its snowing here today and there are still GBH's in the area...pretty resilient bird.

[puddlepirate44]

Which lens did you use? Nice and sharp. I can never seem to get that close to GBHs. They seem to see me coming miles away. :)

[kr88]

Which lens did you use? Nice and sharp. I can never seem to get that close to GBHs. They seem to see me coming miles away. :)

These were shot with the 20D and Canon 100-400L IS

[pknight]

Which lens did you use? Nice and sharp. I can never seem to get that close to GBHs. They seem to see me coming miles away. :)

I am also curious about your (kr88) setup, and the location at which you took these shots. They are wonderful, but it would seem that you are able to get much closer to these birds than I can manage at the refuges hereabouts.

[kr88]

I am also curious about your (kr88) setup, and the location at which you took these shots. They are wonderful, but it would seem that you are able to get much closer to these birds than I can manage at the refuges hereabouts.

The area where I got the shots is called The Venice Rookery. It is locaated in Venice, Florida on Florida's Gulf Coast. The actual Rookery is a very short distance from US 41, Tamiami Trail. Every year many different species of birds will use the rookery for mating and nesting. This occurs starting in November and will continue until April. Most if not all of the species will go through a color transformation (Breeding Plumage), during this time. The lighting at the Rookery will make for some outstanding shots because the morning sunrise illuminates the birds (from behind you the photogrpaher) with golden sunlight. I use a Canon 20D with the 100-400 ISL Lens. Take a look at these links for more information.

http://photo.net/photo/nature/venice.html

http://www.naturesmoments.com/articles-Venice%20Rookery.htm

http://www.pbase.com/kr88/venice_rookery

Thanks to all for looking and commenting! :)

[paulhillion]

Wow fantastic set of shots there Keith, all great especially number 1 but I'd love to see a close crop (if you haven't already cropped?) of both Herons heads on the 3rd image, sort of on a 45 degree angle filling the frame.

Thanks for the links as well, very interesting.