Thursday, May 11, 2017

Nankeen night heron..



If like me you are an inexperienced birder, it's helpful to take along someone who knows what to look for and where to look! The Nankeen night heron above was almost impossible to spot high up in the paperbark trees that grow around the swampy edges of Herdsman Lake. The conversation in hushed tones went like this.. P pointing up 'see there it is' me 'where', P 'right there', me looking through my long lens 'oh there!' You can see what I mean below, if you didn't know that they were there you wouldn't right :)


So much easier to see when sitting out in the open on the top of the branches.. nankeen night heron mug shots below :) Still a few months away from breeding season it was without the two or three white head plumes that are it's breeding plumage. I might have to return in September to see that! Happy Thursday, take care and stay safe..




28 comments:

  1. Great photos, PDP. So different from anything we see here.

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  2. You were out with an expert, I would have missed the heron in the tree as well :)
    Great photos, Grace!

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  3. A very pretty bird! I never would have spotted him in midst of that tree. I'm glad he decided to pop out so you could get a better view.

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  4. ... an inexperienced birder, that's me.

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  5. Love the eye peeking out at you, Grace!

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  6. Herons never look like they belong in trees! This is a handsome bird, we don't have these here.

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  7. Some remarkable shots here...up in the trees! How do you do that? And I've never heard of this beautiful heron before. Great job, Grace!

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  8. What a beautiful bird. I would have never seen it up in the tree and if I did, I wouldn't know what kind of bird it was. To me a bird is one who flies :) Nice capture Grace.

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  9. I constantly hear small birds in trees above but can never see the bird! I am always keen to photgraph birds...

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  10. Your photos of this bird do not look at all inexperienced. The heron definitely sees you, but does not mind having its picture taken.

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  11. Quite a bird! Lovely colors! Like you, I am an inexperienced birder, but I enjoy them anyway.

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  12. Beautiful bird, never seen one like that Grace.

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  13. I never seen an heron in a tree.
    Coffee is on

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  14. I can picture that scene, Grace, P just sees everything :-)
    Cute bird!

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  15. What a striking bird. I have never seen one before.

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  16. You are an excellent photographer, these are so nice. Very well done. I agree it is difficult to find one with a camera, I always see skies and branches through my camera! :)

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  17. Wow lovely photos of a beautiful bird. Well done Diane

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  18. Absolutely lovely bird and great photos. I often wish that I had become interested in birds years ago, esp since our environment has not been kind to the. I am afraid that I already have missed a lot. You are fortunate to have a birder for a a friend!

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  19. Great nature photos of this lovely bird, Grace !

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  20. The top image is fantastic!

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  21. What a lovely looking bird - you got some great shots here.

    All the best Jan

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  22. That is one beautiful bird! Love those colors.
    You took some amazing photos of it!

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  23. I'm just like you, can't name many. I'm a huge heron fan though, and what beautiful captures, especially the one where that sweet bird is looking right into your camera! Wonderful capture!

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