Egrets feeding on the fly

[Parson]

Caught these guys at a local lake this week. Hope you enjoy them.


Both were shot using the 20d with the 100-400L at 400mm. The first was at f5.6 at 1/1600 and the second at f5.6 at 1/2000. The difference in color comes strictly from the angle at which they were taken. The first was shot with the bird coming out of almost total shade with the sun directly behind me. The second was taken with the sun 90 degrees to my left which put both the bird and the background in equal light. Both were shot at about 6:30 AM about 5 minutes apart.

#1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/_MG_3210-web.jpg


#2


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/_MG_3188web.jpg


Have a great day!

[Parson]

PS > Comments/critiques are welcome!

[Alan B]

PS > Comments/critiques are welcome!

How's Fantastic shots sound :cool:

[Parson]

Thanks, Alan! This was a fun morning to be out shooting!!

[Paul A]

Fantastic!!!

[tupe]

Wow! Great shots! #1 has such tremendous presence!

[Vetteography]

Critiques? I got a critique... Knock it off, you are making the rest of us look bad. :D

Great shots!

[Parson]

Thanks to all! Ain't this hobby fun?!

[mattym]

superb shots, fantastic!!

[MarkoPolo]

Wow, Wow- Wow! I echo everyone above, especially about making us look bad. Keep up the good work.

[Dannes]

Wow! Great Caps! How is that 100-400L lens working out for you?
I've been thinking of buying one. These photographs are beautifull.

Keep posting those great shots!

ps: How long did you have to wait (how many clicks did it take) for those caps?

[mrclark321]

Breathtaking...especially the first shot!!

Can I get shots like these with my 350XT?? ( plus some added skill )

Dan

[skade]

Both are awesome shots!

[TammieO]

Amazing!

[sparker1]

Fantastic shots. Did you say 6:30 am? Early photographer gets the bird?

[Michaelmjc]

the second shot is very nice. Great job.

[Parson]

Dannes, I don't think you can beat this lens for the money! I've used the Sigma 50-500 and the 120-300 when I was shooting Nikon and this lens beats both hands down. In response to your second question, I shot about 175 pics in all on this morning and came away with about 15 keepers. The two posted here were about 5 minutes apart.

Thanks for your kind words!
Dave

[Parson]

Dan, I don't see any reason why the 350XT couldn't be used to capture shots like these and better. Just takes time and patience!

Thanks!
Dave H.

[Scottes]

Very nice shots. Great to see them doing something like this.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Er... wow! :shock:

Just amazing.. in particular the fact that Egrets don't hunt this way!!! :shock:
You have quite a rare set of shots as far as I can rell! Wow.

Oh,. and they came out absolutley perfect :)

[scottbergerphoto]

Beautiful shots! Did you use any special sharpening tool?

[Parson]

CyberDyne,

I was amazed to see this group feeding this way, as well. In all my years of watching egrets I don't ever remember them feeding on the fly like this. Usually a stalk and grab technique. This morning, however, there were a group of 6 or 8 that were all hunting on the fly. I'm just glad I was there to document it.

Thanks!
Dave H.

[Parson]

Scott, no special sharpening tool used other than USM in Photoshop. I usually set it at about 200% at a radius of 1 or 2 with a threshold of 3-5.

Thanks,

Dave H.

[foxbat]

The lighting on both shots, but particularly the second is simply beautiful. You were handsomely rewarded for being up and around that early in the morning. Excellent!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Dave,. really,. I think you have seen something truly unique...

Like you I've never seen it,. but not just in person.. (and I've spent my life watching birds) but never in photos or on motion picture either.. this is simply not how Herons hunt. Neither do any of the other brids in the Order (ciconiiformes) let alone the family.. (Ardeidae, which inludes herons, bitterns and egrets)

These guys look to have truly developed a unique from of eating... a method wich quite frankly there body has not evolved for.

I may be wrong of course,. but you may very well want to bring these photos to the attention of the resident experts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/

[CyberDyneSystems]

.... trying to figure out how I can find the time to fly out there and mooch off you untill I see this in person.... ;)

[Parson]

CyberDyne, Come anytime! Just keep in mind, I've lived here 17 years, go to this part of our lake several times each week and this is only the third time I've seen this feeding behavior. If you're content to wait, then my back yard is reserved just for you and your tent! :)

I have a few more shots of this behavior that I'll post later, but these are my favorites.

Have a great day!
Dave H.

PS - I'll take your advice and contact Cornell to see if this is truly as unique as you indicate. Thanks!

[LazyPhotographer]

Holy Cow, Parson..... these are fantastic!

[mr.photoguy]

Great Shots. I have never seen this before.

[ImperialRed]

Beautiful...

My favorite aspect is the wingtips.

[Parson]

Thanks, LazyP and photoguy! I know I had fun taking them!!

Dave H.

[cmM]

a set of captures you should be proud of! Amazing shots!