Swimming BCNH

Gallery: AvianPosted October 5, 2010114 views10 comments

While visiting the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary looking for new duck arrivals and trying to improve my identifying skills, I came upon this Night Heron which seemed to be swimming. I have not seen this behavior before. Comments and suggestions are appreciated

Location: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, California
Date taken 10-01-2010 around 10:30 a.m.
partially cloudy
Canon 7D
EF 400 L 5.6
Shooting Mode = Aperture Priority
ISO 400
Shutter 1/2500
f/ 6.3
Exposure Comp. none
WB Auto
Handheld
Processed in Elements 8 from Raw image
Cropped to 50% of image by pixel count

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 5, 2010 at 1:41 PM

Nice catch! All the wading birds can and do swim, when needed - not very often though - or at least not photographed very often!
Nice techs here, and good handling of the whites.
Sandy r

.

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 5, 2010 at 3:20 PM

Nice capture Harry. I don't think I have ever seen this bird swim before. Rare capture for sure. Beautiful job on the whites and the blacks! Nice reflection too. Would prefer to see a little bit of head turn toward you so as not to make the shot so static. Fairly sharp for such a large crop. Harry, was this in the first lake by the parking lot? I may see you this weekend if your heading Bolsa Chica. Cheers!!

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 5, 2010 at 4:32 PM

Nice detail, Harry and good exposure. I've never seen one posted in this pose. Unfortunately, my personal encounters with the species can be counted on my thumbs.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on October 5, 2010 at 4:35 PM

Cool!! I've never seen this before either...looks just like a swimming duck on the thumbnail.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 5, 2010 at 4:55 PM

What a nice and rare capture!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 5, 2010 at 6:54 PM

Uncommon sight - well documented.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 5, 2010 at 7:51 PM

Nicely documented behavior Harry and you did very well with the exposure. Neat reflection too.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on October 5, 2010 at 9:35 PM

I always see them around water, but don't think I've witnessed this either. Wonderful shot of a behavior seldom seen! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on October 5, 2010 at 10:33 PM

I like the reflection, and agree that the behavior is not one I've seen, even though BCNH are common here in the summer

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on October 6, 2010 at 6:50 PM

Nice and interesting shot Harry,
I had never previously observed this behaviour in spite of having often seen and photographed these subjects.
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments