Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Playing Fetch


I wish I could say I was throwing sticks and this heron was fetching them, but it wasn't quite that way. It was more like the heron was fetching his own sticks. He found one he must have liked because he kept dropping it and picking it back up. This went on for a few minutes until he apparently got bored and decided preening would be more interesting.









 1/1000 sec. f/8 ISO 400




38 comments:

Andee said...

I know that is your pet heron. I just know it! I can't get over your amazing heron shots.

Tanya Breese said...

wow, incredible captures. you really stumble upon birds doing the most interesting things!

Pamela Gordon said...

Wow! These are such clear photos! I love the water droplets falling and the wet feathers. Interesting that it would be playing with wood sticks.

Jan n Jer said...

Maybe birds like to play like humans..you never know!

SRQ said...

Wonderful captures -- terrific clarity. I particularly like the one with the water droplets. Several months ago, I blogged about a GBH I spotted that was playing with a stick and then started hopping around and (from what it looked like) dancing in the rain -- very funny.

Anonymous said...

Nice close up shots! Maybe he's already thinking about nesting season?

MTWaggin said...

Funny! Fannnnnntastic shots though, even if you weren't able to get him to fetch.

From The Heart said...

Gorgeous and amazing! beautiful shots.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Wonderful photos, Brian! He looks like he's smiling in the ones with the water drops. And he's saying that's enough of that in the last one.

Carla Brito said...

Very nice photos!!
Love it!

TexWisGirl said...

if anyone COULD play fetch with a gbh, it would be you. :)

these are beautiful shots. loved the drops and his drops. :) his eye matches the mossy/grassy front.

Karen said...

Remarkable shots Brian. What a magnificent bird.

Gail Dixon said...

I have never seen a heron do this. Wonder if he was just playing or testing the twig for use in a nest or something. Beautifully captured either way.

Carletta said...

Whatever he was doing you recorded it perfectly!
A beautiful bird wonderfully captured!

Unknown said...

Great close ups!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Nancy J said...

Close-ups to perfection.Was this nest-building in practice? Cheers from Jean

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Awesome shots Brian!

Carol Mattingly said...

Gorgeous images Brian.

Kusum said...

wow! Amazing clarity. Must be a prime lens- 400mm or 600mm? Awesome photos.

Kusum said...

wow! Amazing clarity. Must be a prime lens- 400mm or 600mm? Awesome photos.

EG CameraGirl said...

I love your character shots of herons!

Debbie said...

So crisp and clear, I don't know how you do this! So much feather detail, must have been pretty exciting!

mick said...

A great series of photos of the Heron. It's always good when we can watch birds just playing!

Lindsjö taxar said...

How awsome...how can you get them like that?? So sharp and great colours...good lens ....will be next buy

Kerri Farley said...

Oh what great shots!

Springman said...

Great heron pictures Brian, of course!

HansHB said...

Great photos!
Well done!

eileeninmd said...

Wow, these are amazing captures. Is the heron building a nest? Thanks for sharing, have a great day!

Anonymous said...

What wonderful captures of this interesting behavior!

Saun said...

Oh wow these are awesome. Where do you get the time? I seem to never have enough time to get out there and shoot these days. :)

Gillian Olson said...

Gorgeous pictures.

Denise at Autumn Sky said...

Really fun series of shots!

Connie Smiley said...

Brian, what an amazing and gorgeous series of shots! Sometime, maybe you'll share about your process. Are you using a blind there?

barbara l. hale said...

Wow! I am so impressed. These are fabulous!!!!!

Wally Jones said...

This is a really nice series of quality images.

As to the stick, typical guy thing. The wife said: "Go find a sturdy stick to repair that place on the outside wall where you threw the baseball." He decided to play a little toss and catch and had so much fun he forgot he was supposed to bring the stick home.

Happens all the time.........

TheChieftess said...

Great captures!!! The lighting is wonderful too!!!

A Colorful World said...

Fabulous shots, Brian! I guess he finally got tired of the stick! :-)

Unknown said...

The crispness of your main subjects always is so perfect! Great shots.
Rosemary