Finally - A GBH from Indiana

[pathfinder]

I have stalked GBHs for some time and they always fly away whenever I get within 75 yards here in Indiana. Finally, this evening, in the waning sunlight I caught one - It must have had a hard day and been too tired to loft.
ISO 800 f7.1 1/125 560mm
http://Pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/82132328-L.jpg

See Harry, we really do have GBHs here in the midwest.

I started watching the Reznic videos today, and he does include discussion of Canon as well as Nikon, too, Harry.

[Osprey Whisperer]

Nice shot Jim. Congrats on your Indiana Heron. :thumb If they are that hard to come by in Indy...I'll leave my patio door open tomorrow and when one walks in the house.....I'll snatch him up and send him to you. :D <doesn't have the heart to show the osprey in the backyard tree shot>

[Harryb]

Great capture PF. I can imagine a GBH being that skittish. You guys must not treat then right in Indiana. We have a much closer relationship down here with them

http://www.pbase.com/hpb/image/40268087.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/hpb/image/37166252.jpg

:rofl

[Thusie]

Way to go:thumb I know how hard they are in the midwest:wxwax Super job:clap:clap:clap

[Bakat]

WOW! You Lucky Guy!

We have GBH here (I'm in southern Indiana by Louisville) they occaisionally land in a resevoir by the HWY and will fly away if you park on the shoulder. Even from 100 yards away they'll take off. I once parked in the neighborhood behind the resevoir and walked thru shoulder high grass, in shorts, got soaked to the skin in the first 10 feet, legs all cut up by the grasses and brambles. Only to emerge from the grass and have it light as soon as it saw me. AHHH!!

You have my sincere (and rather envious) congratulations!

Kat

[pathfinder]

I hate to sound like whiner, but I know the birds in Florida are all on tranquilizers compared to the wild avians we have in the midwest.

I am happy to hear others who have had similar difficulties in getting close to a GBH in the Midwest. I'm NOT imagining it afterall:thumb!!!

Thanks for the encouragement.:):

[Ric Grupe]

They are the same here in northern Illinois!

Way to go. :clap

[wxwax]

Very nice light, PF. :thumb

[pathfinder]

Thanks Sid.

I'll have to give Ron Reznic part of the credit. This bird was backlit by a very bright grey sky late towards sunset - the sun was at or below the horizon behind clouds. I looked at the histogram and added almost +1 2/3 stops of
+ Exposure compensation to move my histogram spike for the sky all the way to the right. I had just watched Reznic's discussion of the 5 bands on the Canon histogram and used that information to help with the exposure.

I could see the very faint warmth of the fading sunight at the time, and through the + EC was able to capture it. I 'm glad you could see it also.

The truth is that this bird was sitting in a tree adjacent to an holding pond outside Kmart in a shopping mall. Not an attractive setting. The holding pond has an 8 foot high chain link fence around it. I have watched heron's in the pond previously, but whenever i would get out of my vehicle they would immediatley depart. This was shot from within my truck; that is why the bird did not loft immediatley. They are accustomed to vehicles in the Kmart parking lot! I guess I need to disguise myself as a Ford pickup.

[wxwax]

Very interesting. Now I hafta look up this Resnick dude.

[gluwater]

Glad to see you finally got him Jim. I have yet to get within 100 feet of a GBH by me. They are usually flying off before I can even spot them.