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Green Heron and Frog


Green Heron and Frog
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-31
Categories: Birds, Amphibians
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 200, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-09-01 6:59
Viewed: 434
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
A Green Heron (Butorides virescens) just caught a frog for its dinner. Shot in Ile-Bizard.


A small, stocky wading bird, the Green Heron is common in wet spots across much of North America. It can be difficult to see as it stands motionless waiting for small fish to approach within striking range, but it frequently announces its presence by its loud squawking.
The Green Heron is one of the few tool-using birds. It commonly drops bait onto the surface of the water and grabs the small fish that are attracted. It uses a variety of baits and lures, including crusts of bread, insects, earthworms, twigs, or feathers.
The Green Heron is part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron.
As is typical for many herons, the Green Heron tends to wander after the breeding season is over. Most wanderers probably seek more favorable foraging areas and do not travel far. But,occasionally some go farther, with individuals going as far as England and France.
Size: 41-46 cm (16-18 in)
Wingspan: 64-68 cm (25-27 in)
Weight: 240 g (8.47 ounces)
Small, dark heron.
Long yellowish legs.
Long, dark, pointed bill.
Long neck often kept pulled in tight to body.
Legs and neck long, but shorter than most herons.
Greenish black cap on head. Wings blackish with greenish or bluish gloss. Neck rufous. Underparts gray. Wing feathers edged in buff. Legs yellow or yellowish orange; glossy orange during breeding. Slight crest can be raised on back of head. Eyes orange or yellow.
Sexes similar, but female slightly smaller, duller, and lighter.
Immature
Striped brownish on neck and chest. Back brownish with buffy spots.
Similar Species
In flight resembles a crow, but the wing beats are slower, the bunched neck gives it a slightly different shape, and it is reddish on the neck.
American Bittern is larger, more robust, more golden brown and lighter, and lacks the dark cap.
Least Bittern is smaller, slimmer, has a large pale patch in the wing, and is pale below.
Juvenile night-herons are larger and more robust with thicker bills.
Sound
Flight or alarm call an explosive "skeow." Also make series of "kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk" notes.
Breeds from southern Canada through Central America, avoiding the higher and drier areas of the continent.
Winters from the southern United States southward.
Breeds in swampy thickets. Forages in swamps, along creeks and streams, in marshes, ponds, lake edges, salt marshes, ponds and pastures.
Winters mostly in coastal areas, especially mangrove swamps.
Food
Small fish, invertebrates, insects, frogs, and other small animals.
Behavior
Foraging
Stands still next to water and grabs small fish with explosive dart of head and neck. One of the few birds that uses bait to attract fish, it drops such things as bread crusts, insects, and twigs onto the water.
Conservation Status
Common and widespread. Populations difficult to census accurately, but appear stable.
Other Names
Heron vert (French)
Garcita verde (Spanish)
Green-backed Heron (English)
PaulH, Alex99, uleko, eqshannon, bobair, jaycee, Argus, nglen, cicindela, buscape, angela926, Jamesp, gondox, jrobertop, wuta, goldyrs, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 299 W: 22 N: 363] (1878)
  • [2008-09-01 7:03]

Merhaba Mario,
Doğal hayatın içinden alınmış enfes bir dinamik kare. Zamanlama ve bakış açısı mükemmel. Belgesel tadında bir çekim sunmuşsunuz, elinize sağlık.
Hüseyin

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1068 W: 26 N: 3206] (11487)
  • [2008-09-01 7:04]

Hi Mario,
superb shot, the sharpness, timing and detail are first class. Very well done!
tfs
Paul

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3174 W: 154 N: 4796] (15481)
  • [2008-09-01 7:11]

Hi Mario.
What a moment. What a scene. Precise timing and great quality of the image. I like ultimate sharpness and details of the bird, frog and old trunk, impressive smooth BG, wonderful rich colours and fine lighting. Well done and TFS. My compliments.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2008-09-01 7:17]

Hello Mario,
Wow, what a great capture of this beautiful Heron and its prey. I love the moment you've caught showing both in beautiful light and the poor frog seems to struggle to get away.
Excellent sharpness and lovely colours too.
Many thanks, Ulla

hi mario,
right place, right time and good capture of this action. the green heron is beautiful and the unfortunate frog too. enjoyed reading the useful notes. tfs.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • Calaca (112)
  • [2008-09-01 7:51]

Hola, que buena fotografia pobre ranita, pero es el ciclo de la vida, excelentes colores, nitidez e impacto, esta foto me gusta mucho, gracias por compartirla.

  • Great 
  • el7262 (26)
  • [2008-09-01 7:52]

Bonjour Mario,

Superbe cliché sur le vif. couleurs magnifiques.netteté +++.pauvre grenouille qui se débat...

Salut Eric

Well........that's life..and not for others..although I must say I don't share its taste with a frog "uncooked":-) super natural and in action daily chore'ish type of thing. Fine sharp presentation and a slick of life Rockwell way about it.
Bob

Hi Mario.
now this is an interesting capture and the sort of thing I'll like to try to photo myself as any photo that shows action is always eye catching,this is a very eye catching shot indeed.The colours of this heron look excellent and the details are clear and sharp and it looks just a wee be over exposed in places,but I have the same camera and know it is fussy to control at times.It is obvious that the frog doesn't what to be taken by the heron as I can see it's hind right leg is pushing against the heron's upper breast,poor frog but that is life in the natural order of things.A fine and welcome photo and thank you for sharing this view with us all. Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-09-01 9:47]

Hi Mario,

That poor frog dangling from the Heron's beak. Fantastic timing to get this shot - you froze the action perfectly. The colors of the Heron are beautiful. Excellent details of both. You took full advantage of a great opportunity.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-09-01 9:52]

Great one, Mario!
The pose, both of the green heron and its captive frog, the timimg, lighting, colours and sharpness all contribute to make this a superb image taken from an excellent POV.
TFS this delight,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • GaryT Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 86 W: 4 N: 180] (948)
  • [2008-09-01 9:54]

Great shot! Gary

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 11 N: 1348] (4706)
  • [2008-09-01 10:03]

Very good one Mario,
Very good capture on a great moment, the colours are good,Yes I like it, very good note too, great job
Regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1357 W: 72 N: 2886] (9535)
  • [2008-09-01 10:09]

Hello Mario,
Great moment and great timing. Excellent beautiful natural colours and fantastic sharpness. POV and composition are marvelous.
Regards,
Peter

A very timely shot Mario. Just in the right place at right time.
Focus and action is very good for the quickness needed for this photo.
-D

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-09-01 11:27]

Hi Mario. What good timing from you to have got this shot. and from the bird but not so for the poof frog. It looks as if the heron has a smile on its face. You have good detail and colours.with good use of the light. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

The picture is really unusual, as it is not too easy to see a heron with a frog, but I would like to thank you especially for the very interesting note! I had now idea that any heron species can use any "tools" for hunting! Such behaviour is perfectly known in some much smaller species from Galapagos Isles, but this is really interesting!
TFS and best greetings from Poland Mario!
Radomir

Hello Mario,
fantastic timing for this exellent shot.
Everything looks perfect; nothing more to say :-)
Thanks a lot for sharing this masterpiece
Helmut

Hello Mario,
Fantastic capture, excellent sharpness and depth of field, lovely colors, excellent detaqils and great timing.
Angela

Great catch Mario, splendid image full of action.. thanks

aK

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 2 N: 464] (2157)
  • [2008-09-01 23:16]

WOW!
amazing shot. great moment.

the focus is good on subject. nice timing.

tfs

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-09-01 23:22]

Hi Mario

Wow - excellent timing -and great w9ork here, The light and colours are great too.

James

Hello Mario,

Ooopps!
I'm sad for the frog but I can't blame the heron as people eat frogs too!
Exceptional capture of the moment, pin sharp details...
Great colour palette and a well balanced composition with a great sense of depth!

Greetings,
Pablo -

Bonjour Mario,

Excellente capture de ce héron et sa proie. Superbe composition, j'aime bien ces troncs d'arbre dans l'eau et leur réflection. Excellent focus. Superbes couleurs.
Bonne journée,
Mariki

Heureux qui comme Mario a pu capturer ce moment exceptionel!
Superbe photo a tous points de vue
Bravo,
Albert

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1107 W: 6 N: 3063] (11326)
  • [2008-09-03 1:26]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WONDERFULL!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe,it's a fantastic pic! Your class to take so perfectly this situation is impressive! And the quality of this incredible pic is over the top! Surely one of your best (and isn't easy the choice in a beautifull gallery like your),my best best compliments,have a nice day,Luciano

Hi Mario!

This moment captured is outstandingly unique!
Never seen a frog hanging like this :)
The image quality is superb too, those colors on the heron are presented so nicely. Goes to favs, TFS!

Best regards,
Andor

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 169 W: 1 N: 124] (2104)
  • [2008-09-03 11:45]

Salut Mario,
Quelle capture! Difficile d'imaginer qu'il vas avaler cette grenouille.
Belle composition et couleurs.
Félicitation,
Roger

Hi Mario.
Wonderful shot!
Register of a sensational moment!
Very good perspective, excellent sharpness.
A very interesting composition!
Well done!
Regards,
José Roberto

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 884 W: 2 N: 617] (2072)
  • [2008-09-04 10:55]

Hello Mario , Beautiful the ride moment, a great shot , everithig is perfect , sad for the frog , tfs Greetings teunie .

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-09-04 13:46]

Very good shot of this Heron and a poor frog!
Excellent timing to capture this.
Very sharp and detailed.
Well composed.

Stunning work!

Cheers Mario,

Joe

Hi again Mario,
Again, perfect timing...Excellent POV chosen and very sharp details!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3103 W: 234 N: 5930] (20016)
  • [2008-09-06 16:08]

Wow, Mario, what a dramatic shot you have captured!
You could not have gotten a better POV of that hapless frog.
Colors and details on the green heron are wonderful.
Wish those pylons were not in the way, but that could not be helped.
Thanks for sharing that great moment !

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 42 N: 1198] (3860)
  • [2008-09-07 20:52]

Hi Mario,

Wow, a superb capture of this Heron and its prey. Talk about the struggle for life. I really like the moment you captured showing this poor frog in a fight for survival but I guess that's nature. Excellent sharpness and lovely colours, t.f.s

Cheers Rick :)

Bonsoir Mario,

Être au bon endroit au bon moment. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails et les couleurs du héron vert et de la grenouille. L'image est claire et nette. Le sujet est bien cadré. Les couleurs sont rehaussées par la bonne lumière. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

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