Sneeking up on herons

How the hell do you do it? While slowely walking (like when i was hunting) down to the water this morning at loch raven, I seen a heron maybe 170ish feet away. I couldnt even take 3 steps toward its direction and it flew off.

I just walk up, introduce myself and ask if they mind my taking their picture.

Usually works.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ronssmith/57737​70058/

Since you don't have a big super telephoto nor access to tame birds, buy a portable hunting blind, place it in a strategic location (good light, good chance of your heron coming through) and let the bird come to you.

ronsmith-nice pic. lol!
noodle-I think i may have one laying around which i plan to use in my backyard, i will try this out in a couple of weeks back at the same place.

They are skittish, but not impossible to to get close. The best way is to understand where their favourite spots are. Just stay low and take small steps. A blind might help, but I'm not a person who waits all day for a bird to come closer unless I really want to photograph a particular bird like the Kingfishers. Also, just like any birds, the juveniles are generally pretty tame compare to the adults.

Here's a closeup capture I did back in late September:

The pics not showing here at work, i will have to look when i get home. I did get my chance finally and snuck up on one. but due to alot of challenges the pics didnt make out to well.
I have a blind coming to me and a tripod as well.

Crouch, kneel or crawl...I've found that if I can appear smaller than they are, they are more tolerant and will let me get closer. If you have a particular bird that you are working around they will, eventually, become a bit more relaxed with your presence as long as you don't disturb them much when you're around.

Even walking slowly, if I'm fully upright they spook from quite a way off.

Snydremark wrote in post #13430766
Crouch, kneel or crawl...I've found that if I can appear smaller than they are, they are more tolerant and will let me get closer. If you have a particular bird that you are working around they will, eventually, become a bit more relaxed with your presence as long as you don't disturb them much when you're around.

Even walking slowly, if I'm fully upright they spook from quite a way off.

yeah this guy looks like he was of me but didnt fly off. i seen someone else taking pics of him on saturday, so maybe hes photogenic?

Put on the camo, bring a chair, and they'll just about walk right up to you.

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thats always another option. lol, nice gear.

Great shot Raymond!

Another trick is to act like a fish. It confuses them.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ronssmith/57732​41795/

lol great pics ron and muteki.

In some areas they are skittish in others not.

We have some herons ou can jog past or cycle past leaving a mere 3 to 4 meters safety distance as long as you don't stop. Moving past them you can stop after some 20 meters. Avoid looking them directly in the eye, even turn your back on them, slowly pack out your gear (I often have the 100-400 on the 7D in a bag at the back of my bicycle) and start shooting from a distance of about 15 meters. Approaching the bird from the side (neither front nor back) you can then edge your way very slowly to within about 5 to 6 meters.

Otherwise observe them first. Most of those i encounter always come and stand or fish at exactly the same couple of places with a high degree of probability as to the time of day. There you can hide away and wait for them.

Good luck!

^^^Oh yeah! Great tip on the eye contact, too...

good tips. When i was walking up to it before, it was to its side. extremely slow paces taking a few second breaks. when it moved, i stoped for a few minutes. taking pics all they way untill i hit the embankment.

Worked out well. but i didnt think about eye contact.