Great Blue Heron portrait in a marsh – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
On my last trip up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I came across this Great Blue Heron and spent only one minute photographing the large wading bird. In that one minute period of time I watched the hungry heron capture and consume three small fish. Before the heron started hunting I took this portrait of it in the marsh.
Great Blue Heron with a small carp – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When the Great Blue caught the first fish I noticed that I was almost too close to the bird. Although I wish I would have had a bit more room at the bottom of each frame I couldn’t move my Jeep and photograph the heron too. So I stayed where I was and took frame after frame of the heron with the fish.
Great Blue Heron stalking prey – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
As soon as the heron swallowed the first fish I saw it catch and eat it was hunting again. It’s eyes were on a prize that I simply could not see.
Great Blue Heron with a second carp – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Mere moments later the heron caught the second fish, tossed it around in its bill and swallowed it with just a few gulps.
Great Blue Heron doing an Emu imitation – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
As the heron swallowed the fish it looked directly towards me and I laughed out loud because it reminded me of an Emu I once tried to photograph in Tasmania. The Emu gave me a look very much like this right before it slammed its bill onto the UV filter I had covering the glass on my lens. Fortunately I was far enough away from this heron that it couldn’t possibly slam its bill onto my lens.
Great Blue Heron with a third carp and side salad – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The next thing I knew the heron caught a third fish along with an aquatic veggie salad. Before the heron ate the last fish it had to shake off the vegetation it caught with the fish.
In one minute of time I took only 76 images of this heron capturing three fish and swallowing each one whole. It was an action packed minute!
Great Blue Heron Flasher – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I also wanted to share a photo of a Great Blue Heron I had taken earlier in the morning in the “Flasher Pose” that these herons are known for. The herons do this for temperature regulation. Seeing it flashing made me laugh out loud in the field. I hope it makes everyone viewing this image laugh too.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
Really fascinating group of action shots. That Blue Heron caught more fish in an hour than I can catch in a week on Big Bear Lake [So. Calif.] Thanks Mia.
what an amazing minute – and what a successful hunter. Did you save your lens from the emu? I once saw one take a man’s watch. The emu lunged. The watch was on an expanding band and as the man withdrew his arm the watch disappeared down the emu’s throat.
EC, my lens and the UV filter were fine! I was concerned that the thin glass of the UV filter might have cracked at first but after the Emu walked away and I gathered my wits I could see that it didn’t break.
I wonder how long it took for the Emu in your story to pass the watch. It bet it took time.
I suspect it did take time – and wonder how much of the watch survived the trip.
Aww he didn’t like a few veggies with his fish.
This time last year I took a picture of a great Heron that did that flasher pose. I had never seen one like that before. You learn something new everyday. Thank you Mia for these wonderful photos
What a great series! I saw the flasher pose earlier this year (Potomac MD), but until now didn’t know what it was called. Many thanks for the education and your stunning photos!
What a great series of photos. Love the “Emu” photo. In the twelve years I have been photographing wildlife, I had never seen the Flasher Pose of a Great Blue Heron…..until this year. Maybe it’s because it is hotter than usual. To Marty, I went back & looked at the third photo as I had obviously missed that. Great eyes, as I thought it was a clump of weeds!
Now THAT’S an action-packed minute! Your Emu comment cracked me up and you’re absolutely correct about that head-on pose. Really like the GBH’s raised foot in the 3rd shot as well.