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Night Heron


Night Heron
Photo Information
Copyright: Adrian Osmant (suenade) Silver Note Writer [C: 5 W: 0 N: 19] (130)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-02
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Sigma 50-500 F/4-6.3 EX HSM, RAW ISO 200, UV Filter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-11 6:30
Viewed: 1112
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Taken whilst on a wildlife trip to the Greek island of Crete, this is the very rare Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). I have my wife to thank for this shot as at the time when we saw it, I was actually driving the car. Rather than spook the bird the shot was actually taken from the inside of the car, so all in all I'm rather pleased with the shot. I only managed to get about six frames fired before the bird did indeed see us and flew off.
It certainly was a big surprise to us as it's not a species I don't think you'd normally associate with Crete, in fact the main reason we were on the island was to actually capture Griffin Vultures, something I'll be uploading over the next few days all being well.

A little more details on the species:
Height: 58-65cm
Wingspan: 90-100cm
Winters in Africa and breeds colonially at marshes, ponds and riversides.
Food: Fish, frogs and insects.
It's an exceptionally rare visitor to the UK, although it does sometimes turn up in Southern Europe, usually between Apr-Jun.
They're normally active at night, roosting communially in trees during daylight hours. Normally nests in trees, although sometimes in reedbeds and the nest is normally a platform of sticks.
Voice: Noisy at colonies, with various croaking noises.

I felt very honoured and lucky to see this bird as I've only ever see one before and that was a captive animal, hope you all enjoy too, regards to all....Ade
IanA has marked this note useful
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Hi,
Difficult one to take this and I feel the focus is in front of the bird, which is obviously some distance away. If you were on autoficus then the camera has concentrated on the gravel banking rather than the bird. manual focus would have been better. Keep them coming.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • IanA (29)
  • [2007-05-12 3:53]

Got to agree that it's close, but not quite. However, the rarity value makes it worth posting and I know Shirley did no better. Well spotted Sue.

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