Pinellas County

Great Blue Herons in Florida and Utah

By Mia McPherson, on February 13th, 2013%

Great Blue Heron flying over the Gulf of Mexico – Nikon D200, handheld, f5.6. 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 260mm, natural light

Great Blue Herons are year round residents in both Florida and Utah although conditions during the winter months can be starkly different for these large wading birds in the two locations and climates. Florida during the winter can be cool but comfortable.

The Great Blue Heron above was photographed as it flew over the Gulf of Mexico in Florida.
Great Blue Heron hunting voles in winter – Nikon D200, f7.1, ISO 400, 1/2000, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Winters in Utah can be harsh, bitter cold and the ground can stayed covered in snow for weeks. Some times the freshwater freezes and the Great Blue Herons can no longer find food from the marshes, ponds and streams so they hunt for voles instead. The Great Blue Heron shown above was stalking voles near snow-covered vegetation at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area. I remember having numb hands when I took this image, it was that cold!

Great Blue Herons nesting – Nikon D200, handheld, f8, 1/1000, ISO 320, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

This photo was taken at the end of December of 2008 at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida where the Great Blue Herons were already building nests by that time, can’t imagine that happening here in Utah. Note the blue lores that both of these birds have, that is a sign that they are in breeding plumage. The setting sun gave this image that golden glow of “sweet light”.

By the way, I unknowingly stepped into a fire ant hill when I took this image, thankfully I realized it right away, moved, brushed off the ants and continued shooting images.

Great Blue preening in the snow – Nikon D300, f7.1, ISO 400, 1/2500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Great Blue Herons in Utah do seem to have a tougher life but they appear to deal with it quite well. I spotted this heron a few weeks ago as it preened on the snowy banks of a small stream. We’d had lots of snow that week and there was over a foot of it at Farmington Bay WMA.

Great Blue Heron in pursuit – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1500, ISO 400, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 98mm, natural light

Great Blue Herons in Florida have to deal with extreme weather too because tropical storms and hurricanes can batter all of the birds with high winds, driving rains, pounding waves and loss of habitat. This Great Blue Heron was chasing off a rival for some prime fishing grounds in a territorial pursuit.

Great Blue Herons survive in both locations because they are adaptable and if they can’t locate their normal prey they will find another.

Mia

More Great Blue Heron images

Female Long-billed Curlew

By Mia McPherson, on February 12th, 2013%

Female Long-billed Curlew – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

Some people think of Robins as the harbinger of spring, some think of Bluebirds while others think of Meadowlarks but since I moved to Utah I think of Long-billed Curlews as my personal harbinger of spring. Last year they showed up the middle of March so right now it is just a little over a month before they arrive.

I photographed this female Long-billed Curlew a few years ago in Florida. The females have such long bills!

As much as I love winter I can’t wait to hear the haunting call of the Long-billed Curlews.

Mia

More Long-billed Curlew images

Breeding plumage Tricolored Heron in flight

By Mia McPherson, on February 5th, 2013%

Breeding plumage Tricolored Heron in flight – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 185mm, natural light

I’ve always liked this image of a Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage that flew past me while I sat in the water of a tidal lagoon near a Spartina marsh in Florida. Warm water, a sea breeze, birds, nature and photography.

I was in my element. Or is that elements?

Mia

More Tricolored Heron images

*Because of Google’s changes in Image Search and how they have begun to hotlink to my larger images I will no longer post large versions of my files on my blog.

Calm Snowy Egret

By Mia McPherson, on January 7th, 2013%

Calm Snowy Egret – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 360mm, natural light

This image soothes me because of the still water, the relaxed pose of the Snowy Egret and the memories of how delightful it was to be on the north beach of Fort De Soto with my fellow photographer friends with the warmth of the rising sun on my back as I lay in the tidal mud next to this lagoon. Calm is the first thing I think of when I view this photo.

Who doesn’t need “calm” in their lives now and then? I know I do. Sometimes more than others.

Mia

More Snowy Egret images

Two Great Birds

By Mia McPherson, on January 4th, 2013%

Great Egret Portrait – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 160mm, natural light, not baited

These two “Great” images were taken two minutes apart of two different “Great” wading birds in Florida. The first one I photographed was this Great Egret that was going into breeding plumage, those lores were pretty green but they get greener during the height of mating season. Notice that I was only at 160mm, this bird walked up very close to me. That bill looked dangerously close, glad I don’t look like any of this bird’s prey.

Great Blue Heron Portrait – Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, not baited

This Great Blue Heron was going out of breeding plumage, notice that the lores are a dull gray with a slight blue tint to them, during mating season the lores are a dark blue.

They are “Great” birds!

Mia

More Great Egret and Great Blue Heron images