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The Grey Heron
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Taken at *Queens vally in Jersey Grey herons are among the most familiar of our local water birds. Fresh or salt, clear or muddy each is acceptable so long as it will yield something worthwhile.
The bird doesn't always wait for quarry but stalks through the shallows with long deliberate strides, neck muscles tensed for spearing.
Eventually a fish will pay the price of carelessness as the heron's kinked neck is straightened with startling speed and the sharp bill stabs its prey - sometimes several times.
The heron's breeding season is prolonged. In early February in a mild season, they may be seen soaring over the nesting wood and chasing one another, tilting from side to side and diving head-long.
An exciting performance to watch for next to the mute swan the heron is our largest common bird. Endless display takes place on old nest platforms and consists of elaborate neck movements with crest and neck plumes erect and accompanied by bill-snapping and a variety of blood-curdling calls.
Source:-http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/grey-heron.asp
*Queen's Valley is Jersey's biggest reservoir holding upto 262 million gallons of water. Today it is enjoyed by people who walk around it and by freshwater fishermen. But the original proposals to flood the valley caused great controversy and protest durign the 1980s.
Prior to being flooded, a cottage in Queen's Valley was used as a location in the BBC television series Bergerac. |
coasties, SelenE, K9madtex has marked this note useful
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Hi Richard
Well done on a great shot. Lovely details you show here. Good colour to the plumage. Only nit is I think it could use a little tweak to the sharpening. :-)
- SelenE
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4227]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(13822) - [2007-11-09 1:17]
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Hi Richard,
Nice capture with good POV, composition and lighting. TFS
Best wishes,
Selen
Very nice. A little more of the reflection would have been nice, but it's a great shot like it is. We have blue herons here. I will make it a point to photograph one for you.
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 712 W: 36 N: 1553]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}