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Heron 5 - Crossed Beaks

By

Published: Apr 25, 2015

232 Views

bird chick heron

Description

HeronsThere is a small heronry near where I live. Sited on the bank of the Ladybrook and nestling in tall Scots pines, this breeding colony comes back every Spring to re-build nests, lay eggs and raise its young. I've been lucky enough to watch this annual event over about 25 years. At one time there were as many as 18 breeding pairs, but now, I think the number closer to 9. The local landowner has cut down several of the nesting trees for some unknown reason.
The high swaying tree tops with their densely packed needle foliage make viewing of any chicks by the naked eye all but impossible, but a long lens, patience, and a still day can pay dividends. The female herons attend the nest and chicks, while the males fly far and wide for food and for sticks to build and reinforce the nests. The herons are pair bonded, and the females can spot a returning male at about 1/4 mile, letting out a shrill call of greeting. The females also guard the chicks from their arch enemies - the crows, and now als

Image size

1652x1652px 3.15 MB

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Shutter Speed

1/250 second

Aperture

F/8.0

Focal Length

400 mm

ISO Speed

160

Date Taken

Apr 24, 2015, 8:46:20 PM

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Comments4

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Wonderful capture

!