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Little Heron stalking


Little Heron stalking
Photo Information
Copyright: Doug Whincup (dougsphotos) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 84 W: 4 N: 177] (771)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80, Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-27 0:06
Viewed: 454
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I spotted this Little Heron (Butorides striatus) in the shallows in a quiet corner of a lake in Singapore Botanic Gardens and watched it stealthily, slowly stalk around on the hun for small fish - didn't see any success though!

Info from good old Wikipedia:

Butorides Striatus
Size: 40-48cm
Habitat: Mangroves, tidal mudflats, offshore islands, rivers and streams in or near forest, lakes; up to 1,400m

The Striated Heron (or Mangrove Heron or Little Heron), Butorides Striatus, is a small heron.
Adults have a blue-grey back and wings, white underparts, a black cap and short yellow legs. Juveniles are browner above and streaked below.

Their breeding habitat is small wetlands in the Old World tropics from west Africa to Japan and in South America. They are mostly non-migratory. They nest in a platform of sticks often in shrubs or trees, sometimes on the ground, often near water, laying 3-5 eggs.

These birds stand still at the water's edge and wait to ambush prey, but are easier to see than many small heron species. They mainly eat small fish, frogs and aquatic insects.

They sometimes use bait, dropping a feather or leaf carefully on the water surface and picking fish that visit it.

Taken at 300mm, handheld but rested on a handy tree stump to steady it as best I could. Hope you like it.

Thanks for looking
Doug
PaulH, Miss_Piggy has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Doug,
the stalker stalks the stalker! Very well caught, the attitude of the bird. The picture is full of tension because of this, makes it so interesting. My compliments
Best regards
Dietrich

Hello Doug,

Excellent picture of this heron. The pose of the bird is great. Excellent POV, DOF and sharpness. Lovely colours too. I like the rimples on the water surface.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1883 W: 245 N: 6168] (21966)
  • [2008-06-27 1:23]

Awesome shot, Doug!!
The pose is superb!
Perfect sharpness that has conserved lots of detail.
Very good exposure and light.
Great composition.

Very well done!

Joe

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2765 W: 150 N: 7969] (24819)
  • [2008-06-27 1:32]

Hello Doug,
A great capture of a stalking Little Green Heron taken with good timing from a fine POV and set in a pleasing composition with a contrasting BG. I have seen this one in the botanical Gdns but failed to get a shot where he stands out as well as in this one.
TFS this delight,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1067 W: 26 N: 3196] (11461)
  • [2008-06-27 2:27]

Great timing Doug, lovely pose you caught here with some good detail and very sharp for handheld at 300mm. Hope you're doing good,
Paul

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1355 W: 72 N: 2875] (9497)
  • [2008-06-27 11:04]

Hello Doug,
Great action photo. Excellent pose with a lot of tension. Beautiful natural colours and very sharp. Great light.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Peter

Hallo Doug
Due to the fact that I have been ill, I just could not give my comments to some of the lovely images that appeared and past me by on the gallery. Now I have such a lot of catching up to do so please pardon me for only saying……………………
Splendid image. It is indeed a feast to the eye and it did not go unnoticed.I just love the emotion captured on this herons face. The expression is priceless. Lovely movement of the one paw in the air. Great stuff.
Best regards
Anna

Hello Doug,
Very well captured.
Superb pose!
Cheers
Mark

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