Birding by Camera | Adventures in Nature Photography
Stalking the Hunters: Additional Images
Little Blue Heron with Eastern Newt. I have seen Little Blues hunting Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) on several occasions, but this is the only time that I have been able to capture it photographically. Photo taken at Pilant Lake under natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).American Bittern with Fish at Pilant Lake. Like tigers, American Bitterns stalk the weedy margins of waterways, almost perfectly camouflaged. Note how the bird’s disruptive coloration blends with the verticals of stalks and shadows of stalks. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).Tri-colored Heron with Tadpole. Photo taken at Pilant Lake. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).Green Heron with Sunfish at Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. Photo taken at Elm Lake. This image was a finalist in the 2011 Flickr/Texas Parks and Wildlife Photo Contest. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).
Spearfishing: This Green Heron has speared a Bluegill Sunfish. Photo taken at Elm Lake. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).
Frog Hunter: A juvenile Little Blue Heron has speared and is about to eat a nearly-grown frog. Photo taken at 40-Acre Lake. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).Snowy Egret with Mating Pair of Halloween Pennant Dragonflies. Photo taken at Elm Lake in July under natural light. Canon EOS 7D/600mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).Tough to Swallow: This is about the size limit for this Great Blue! I watched this heron try, and fail, to swallow this catfish half a dozen times. Eventually the bird flew away with the fish. Photo taken at Elm Lake. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).
Fishing Black-crowned Night-Heron: these birds lure fish by wagging and opening and closing their beaks. Photo taken at Elm Lake. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).
Helldiver: This Pied-billed Grebe is in the process of tearing apart and eating a crawfish. Photo taken at Elm Lake. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).
White-faced Ibises eat vegetable material as well as animal prey, and are not common at Brazos Bend. This one is in the process of manipulating an American lotus bulb into swallowing position. Photo taken at Elm Lake. Natural light. Canon EOS 7D/500mm f/4L IS (+1.4x TC).
Hunting, fishing, drawing, and music occupied my every moment. Cares I knew not, and cared naught about them.–John James Audubon
