Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Ice Breaker III


This is the final part in my "ice breaker" series. I know it's warm enough in most parts of the country that people aren't thinking about ice, but I had to get this in to finish things off. If you missed the first two parts, you can see how a Canada Goose handled the ice (Ice Breaker) and then how a flock of American Coots fared on the frozen stuff (Ice Breaker II). All three of these sequences actually happened on the same day.

This time it's the regal Great Blue Heron. Although, he's not looking quite so regal while dealing with the ice. He was trying to land in the middle of the lake, but the weak ice kept messing with his psyche. I didn't use all the photos, just enough to convey the scene.

Here's the first attempt. And I'm pretty sure the third photo is the heron equivalent of being PO'd.








And the second attempt.








Now the third and final attempt after which the heron said enough of this indignity, I'm out! And I'm quite certain as he flew by I heard him say his Florida cousins could kiss his hiney!








48 comments:

Carole M. said...

oh my, these had me laughing, I was going to comment on certain ones and they just got better and better. What great shots Brian!

Linda said...

What a wonderful show this morning! I love waking up to your photographs, Brian! Thank you for your wonderful work!

Anonymous said...

LOL...nothing can make a day begin more perfect than a good cup of coffee and a great laugh first thing in the morning! Thanks Brian, this is one more series to show my grandbaby, he just loves watching the "silent movies" you make. Love the
10th shot, such grace!

darlin said...

This is a magnificent series, funny but fantastic shots! Cheers.

Nancy said...

Great that you were able to follow the series all the way through and your comments are too funny. Great shots. :)

Tammy said...

Excellent series of photos! You did an outstanding job capturing the action of the poor guy! I definitely don't get to see GBHs ice skating here:)

EG CameraGirl said...

Very, very cool photos! They make my great blue heron photo look so plain and ordinary. :))

Kathy said...

Wow, what a performance! I think someone could choreograph a ballet from these moves!

Pamela Gordon said...

These are amazing photos! Such a beautiful bird in action mode. Great humour too. ;)

Kim, USA said...

Oh my looks like the Heron is showing like he is in a fashion runway ^_^ Awesome shots!

TexWisGirl said...

i, for one, am going to miss the ice in Kentucky. love your ice breakers series. :) these are so funny! perfect shots!

i love that 10th 'bendy legs' pic, too!

Val said...

This is a great series of shots. Good for giggles in the morning. thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

Unknown said...

Great shots Boom and Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Martha Z said...

Love this, it's a fantastic series!

Karen said...

Poetry in motion!

KristiBowmanDesign said...

Gorgeous, I hope to have an opportunity to photogragh one of these beauties one day!

HansHB said...

WOW, - these photos are fantastic!
Great shots! Bulls eye!

theconstantwalker said...

Awesome images Brian...

Nature Rambles said...

Truly wonderful images! I had to see the ninth and tenth ones again. Superb!

Leenie said...

Wow! great shots. Mr. Heron so lost his coolness in the cold. (grin)

Cathy said...

What a fun site to wake up to this morning. What a beautiful bird and your photos are amazing... wonderful commentary too!

Maude Lynn said...

These are just amazing!

Linda said...

What a fantastic series of shots, made me smile.

Nancy said...

I am loving looking at these photographs...they are absolutely wonderful...and yes there is a laugh to go along...The wing span is incredible....

mick said...

A great series. I always did wonder how birds learned to deal with ice on the lakes - I guess it's by trial and error!

Dina said...

It's weird seeing him standing on the water. You got some beautiful flight shots!

joo said...

OK, I'm fed up with snow, ice and winter (after almost month of temperatures lower than -15), but your photos are so fascinating, that I could look at them for hours!

barbara l. hale said...

These are just great! I just can't decide which pic I like the best. It might be the fourth one down where he's standing on his tip toes with his wing out. Great series!!!

Fjällripan said...

Wow this is a great serie!! Fantastic captures of the heron!

eileeninmd said...

Wow, amazing captures and wonderful series on the Great Blue.

Springman said...

I can not imagine seeing a better series of action photos. You are inspiring a lot of bird photographers John, including me. There is much to learn from here. How amazing you could pull off this set given the cold dark day and a figity bird. You are a dedicated master!
Oh yes, your GBH deserves credit too!

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

So much beauty and grace in that heron series!

Debbie said...

what a great series and i shared a crow!!

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

I think this is my first visit with you. You clearly know how to be in the right place at the right time. Every photography would die to get a series like this. I can't help but appreciate the humor in the pictures and your commentary is perfect. I look forward to seeing what you will do next.

Andrea @ From The Sol

Chatty Crone said...

Those were some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen. Wow. sandie

Gillian Olson said...

The are both amazing and comical. He is so NOT amused by the experience.

Carletta said...

Have really loved your series!
I couldn't help as I scrolled down thinking I was watching a clumsy ballerina. :) They made me smile!
Excellent shots!

Stewart M said...

Hi there - this is funny - your comment on my blog popped up as I was writing one on yours!!

I do wonder what the birds make of the idea that a substance they 'know' to behave in one way, stops doing so. I wonder what (if any) confusion it generates?

Cheers - Stewart M

Hilke Breder said...

Scrolling through your photos I had to laugh out loud. Like a silent movie comic strip! Great shots!!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

Oh this entire Ice Breaker series was great. Goes to show the benefit of holding that shutter release down and keep firing off shots. You got some really great images. Out-did my goofy gull landings. Well done.

Modesto Viegas said...

Great series!!!
Well done!
Regards,

jeanlivingsimple said...

Oh my! These are Award Winning shots!!!

Anonymous said...

What a fantastic series! You've caught this elegant bird in some very awkward situations. He does look quite perturbed as he calls it quits and flies off!

Linnea said...

Stunning and amazing shots...like a statue! Beautiful bird!

Tammy said...

Fun shots of one of my favorite birds. That 10th one is priceless :)

gtyyup said...

LOL...hilarious...wonderfully captured!

Veronica said...

INCREDIBLE!!! What spectacular photos!!

mansuetude said...

may be the best photos of a blue heron i've ever seen. looks hungry.