Green-backed Heron

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Green-backed Heron
Photo Information
Copyright: Mike Rolfe (fiftysomething) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 39 W: 3 N: 120] (570)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 30D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM, 77mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/350 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-15 5:41
Viewed: 419
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a juvenile Green-backed Heron (Butorides Striatus), photographed in the Pafuri area of the Kruger Park.
This is the smallest heron in the world, found in Africa south of the Sahara, some islands in the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, Asia and Australia. They are usually an uncommon bird but may be very common in some areas. They will hunt around streams, pans and ponds, any water with thickly foliated banks. They have been seen to place a feather on the water, used as a lure for prey. They breed from August to June; both sexes incubate the eggs from 21-25 days. Young can fly at just over 30 days. They feed on frogs, spiders, fish, crustaceans, insects and small reptiles.
loot, JPlumb has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Mike

Truly odd bird in this lovely capture. Its belly feathers are almost snake like in its patterning.

Jai

Hi Mike

I don't think I have ever seen or heard about this heron before and it looks really strange (to me anyhow).

Great capture and DOF, sharpness and composition,

TFS
Emma

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 67 W: 0 N: 42] (279)
  • [2008-04-15 16:52]

Hello mike,
you capture of this heron is very intricate I think. I also tried to hunt for them in paddy fields in my country but could not get close enough. They flew off too fast.
your photo here is very informational, details of the colours, fearthers, and its environment.
The picture is very clear and contains element of good nature photographs.
congratulations,

Regards,
Foozi

Hi Mike, very nice work in the capture of this Heron. You've composed it very well for with this portrait format. I like how he stands out, yet we have good visibility of his natural background. Colour is very good, with very excellent sharp detail seen on the bird.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5633 W: 594 N: 3202] (8699)
  • [2008-04-16 13:34]
  • [2]

Hi Mike

I just love this shot of the juvenile Green-backed Heron. Actually for a number of different reason apart from the fact that you captured it in all its beauty. In the early days when I started visiting the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Reserve I used to see these birds quite regularly. Those days there were still lots of streams flowing and one would always find one of these birds at a low water bridge sitting on a rock while peering into the water and waiting for a little fish to come past. Nowadays all of the small streams have dried up and I very rarely see one of these birds. The same can be said about the Sunset dam at Lower Sabie. While I understand the need for the removal of all the hyacinth and other water plants the truth of the matter is that it also removed all those beautiful water birds that frequented there in great numbers.

Anyway, this guy looks great in this vertical composition. You have captured it in between its natural habitat and it shows excellent details and natural colours.

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

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