Reddish Egret

Gallery: AvianPosted May 12, 20187,531 views8 comments

I spent a few days over in the St. Petersburg, Florida area recently where my brother now lives, conveniently for me close to Fort DeSoto State Park. It was there I photographed this Reddish Egret hunting. I got into the warm water and just sat cross legged in the water to get the angle I wanted. I think this is the bird known as "Big Red" - he had a different hunting style than most Reddish Egrets I had seen - in addition to the normal "Drunken Sailor" activity sometimes he would jump up into the air just over the water and flap around a bit before crashing down into the water after a fish - I think maybe the higher view gave him a better view of the fish below.
Canon 5D4, 100-400 II at 400mm 1/2500 F8, iso 800, handheld sitting in the water.

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on May 12, 2018 at 6:56 PM

Fine Reddish flight pose, Nate. That's my favorite place for these characters. If I had to nitpick, I think a slightly shorter focal length with more space on the right would work a little better. Is this at North Beach?

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 12, 2018 at 7:02 PM

Thanks Bill, yes this was at the North Lagoon. I have quite a bit of room on the left but no more on the right, the bird was moving around erratically as they usually do so not easy to frame up perfectly.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 12, 2018 at 10:27 PM

I know I'm dating myself here but you could call this guy the Fred Astaire of the Egret world. Love the dance pose and I'm fine with the comp Nate-nice capture. devil

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 13, 2018 at 3:36 AM

Great action captured here, Nate. Love the hint of surroundings in the image. Just must have had a great time sitting in the water, watching this guy ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 13, 2018 at 1:16 PM

Nice water dance, especially at this low angle. I'm fine with the crop. Of course, I wish the bigger clump of veg weren't there on the right, but that's out of your hands. Overall a great capture.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 13, 2018 at 5:59 PM

Sweet one, Nate. The low angle really paid off and I like the slightly zany look that fits this species so well.

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

Comment posted by Debapratim Saha on May 14, 2018 at 3:47 AM

Like the beautiful "dancing" pose,beautiful shot Nate.

Registered on February 4, 2018, 26 Posts, 101 Comments

Comment posted by Shirley Freeman on May 16, 2018 at 11:21 AM

This is a beautiful capture of this guy, Nate. The angle of view really helped, and that sweet light on his plumage, and the great detail, then add to that, his cute behavior, and it adds up to a super shot. That is convenient of your brother to live so close to a place like that where you can go out and shoot.

Registered on May 27, 2017, 77 Posts, 844 Comments