What type of Heron is this ?

[neil_r]

any clues as to what type of heron this is. Taken in San Fancisco, it was huge.


http://www.neil-rice.com/gallery/photo/large/sf_2004_N6H1312.jpg

[Scottes]

Looks like a Great Blue Heron to me. And a 7-foot wingspan seems about right - definitely not small.

Nice shot, BTW. How close were you?

[marie]

that is a beautiful shot Neil

were you showing him the ropes ?http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_mrgreen.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_lol.gif

[gramps]

I thought I just posted here but if dissappeared....................again..........gre at shot and super details

[neil_r]

were you showing him the ropes ?http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_lol.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_mrgreen.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_lol.gifOr him me..............???

:) :) 'Nollaig Shona Duit' :) :)

To you and yours

N
xxx

[Volatile]

might be a tri-color heron... I'm not a bird guy though, so that's just a guess...

[Ikinaa]

Great shot...
I really like how the bird is in focus except for the wing tips...

Tell me... the heron didn't land on the cable, did it? ;)

[marie]

Or him me..............http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/confused3.gif

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif 'Nollaig Shona Duit' http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif

To you and yours

N
xxx

go raibh míle maith agat Neilhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif

sláinte http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_lol.gif

wishing you and yours lotsa happiness this seasonhttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/santa/icon_smile.gif:):)

and......... take care :cool:

[BENFC]

Actually "Little" Blue Heron. Check out the leg color nad eye color. They get to be pretty good size. Ben

[Scottes]

Actually "Little" Blue Heron. Check out the leg color nad eye color. They get to be pretty good size. Ben
Double-checking Sibley's... Though the leg and eye match both birds, almost none of the other colors *such as the cheek, throat, and flight feathers) match the little blue heron. I'll still stick with a GBH.

[jimtfoto]

Agree with scottes ... both the little blue and tricolored herons and much smaller than GBH ...

cheers,
jim

[Turbowolf]

I'd say it's a Great Blue Heron, at the upper edge of breeding age.

The wingspan and leading edge coloration matches the GBH. The offset in leg color may be due to one of two things;

1) looks like the lower legs and some of the rope are in shadow, causing a perceived darkening.

2)The feathers seem ragged, like those of an older bird. This could cause a change to darker coloration in the older bird due to environmental exposure to contaminents. Remember these birds feed by wading, and it may well have waded in and out of oil patches throughout it's lifespan. It was in San Franciso afterall, a major shipping area.

[Turbowolf]

Sorry for the inadvertant educational session in the last message ... I'm working on my college research paper - Wolf interaction with prey species during winter in Yellowstone.

My mind stayed in research mode while wandering to photo mode for the post...

[Scottes]

That's fine by me TurboWolf. It's nice to see a little different insight into the ID, and little pointers help with the tough birds.

[sparker1]

None of us minds a little education from one who knows. Isn't that why we're here?

[DLopez]

I wonder if it tastes like chicken? :p

(just kidding!)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Scottes is positively correct. Great Blue without question.

Little Blues look VERY differnet.... not even the same "body type"

Tricolors on the other hand have nearly Identical body.. but of course are differently colored.

Wonderfull shot of the Big Guy ;)

[robertwgross]

I agree. Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, adult, without a doubt.

Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea, would be very unusual around San Francisco.

---Bob Gross---