Maryland Blue Heron

I ventured down to Blackwater Wildlife Refuge down in Cambridge MD and got some nice shots of this blue heron that flew over my car. I stopped immediatley and had my camera in my lap; got out and started taking pics of this beautiful bird.

- I was using my Canon t2i with my 75-300mm lens.

Well, realize that when you are asking about "upgrading" your lenses for this stuff, well, you are talking Money!

But the lens I typically advise is the Canon 100-400. It's great as an all-around lens to get started in birding/wildlife and such and is a good-quality lens!

tonylong wrote in post #14102455
Well, realize that when you are asking about "upgrading" your lenses for this stuff, well, you are talking Money!

But the lens I typically advise is the Canon 100-400. It's great as an all-around lens to get started in birding/wildlife and such and is a good-quality lens!

Great, thanks for your input!

Interesting that your Herons fly with their necks out, whilst ours fly with them in !!!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/68439195​42/

Trugga wrote in post #14102695
Interesting that your Herons fly with their necks out, whilst ours fly with them in !!!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/trugga/68439195​42/
Heron in flight by Trugga, on Flickr

That was taken (this morning) with a T2i and a 100-400L.

I bought the lens about 6 weeks ago and I do find it excellent for birding. It was not cheap, but is a huge step up in quality from the Tamron 70-300 I was using previously. Each time I return from a weekend walk in the local reserve, the PC reveals I am improving.

I find the Heron a facinating subject - good luck with your quest for a better image.

Lawrence

Thanks for the input and great photo!
Unfortunately, my budget is tight so I'd rather save up and get a good quality lens that I'll have to for a long period of time. The canon 100-400 sounds like a great lens for wildlife and birds. That might possibly be my next investment if I stop buying small accessories here and there...

- And yes, Herons are great birds to take photos of!

Not quite the quality of the Canon 100-400L but at least according t my local trusted camera shop, a decent piece of glass is the Tamron 200-500 f5-6.3

Not one of my best shots but: shelley-lake

If you want to get more up close and personal with herons, I recommend heading out to Chincoteague. Blackwater is great for eagles and hawks, but the park at Chincoteague is far better set up for herons and egrets. They also seem to be much more tolerant of people at Chincoteague. I can regularly get within 15 ft easily as they fish and wade.

I've also noticed that herons only have their necks out in flight over short distances. They tuck in for the long haul. Don't think that's a regional thing.

dfbovey wrote in post #14111004
If you want to get more up close and personal with herons, I recommend heading out to Chincoteague. Blackwater is great for eagles and hawks, but the park at Chincoteague is far better set up for herons and egrets. They also seem to be much more tolerant of people at Chincoteague. I can regularly get within 15 ft easily as they fish and wade.

I've also noticed that herons only have their necks out in flight over short distances. They tuck in for the long haul. Don't think that's a regional thing.

hmm, thats good to know, I never knew that. And don't get me wrong, but I'd love to get some blad eagles and hawk photos as well. I just think I gotta wait different times of the spring and summer to go back up there.