Bittern fever, catch it!

[Harryb]

Hi Y'all,

One of the toughest subjects I've dealt with is the least bittern. They are the smallest of the heron family being between 11-14 inches and weighing 2-3.5 ounces. With its small size it also is a very furtive bird which almost never comes out into the open. In the past four years I've been able to get qucik shots of them maybe 3-4 times.

This is my usual view of a least bittern.
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981082_ySPXS-L.jpg

Well that all chnaged last Tuesday when Nancy (Flygirl) and I found three bitterns in the open and they hung around for a few hours. I ended up getting over 500 shots of them. All shots with the D3 and the Nikon 500mm f/4 and the 300mm f/4 + 1.7 TC at ISO 2000

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981118_TYuMC-XL.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268980636_aJqF2-XL.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268980796_byRth-XL.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981019_4VsXv-XL.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981032_gwS2B-XL.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981065_7dcnF-XL.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981248_wEzBj-XL.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268980893_xkaE5-XL.jpg

[Zanotti]

Perfect!

I love they way they grip with their feet!

Nice shots Harry,

Z

[Jim T]

Man Harry,

Those shots of the neck strech and going in for the kill made me saw wow so loud my wife came in the room to see what I was looking at:wink!

As always very nice work!:thumb I am coming down to visit my folks next spring. They are near Clewiston by Okechoobe (sorry spelling). When I say see my folks I really just plan to follow you around to see how you do it!:bow :bow :bow

[Osprey Whisperer]

Pretty cool. I didn't have much luck spotting these guys at MIV..even with 8-10 other eyes trying to guide mine in the correct direction. :D Well done Harry.

[kgarrett11]

I'm trying to think of another word to use since WOW has already been used. These are awesome. Put great equipment in the hands of a real photographer and this is what happens.:clap :clap :clap

[dbaker1221]

what great luck Harry, good for you. Fantastic captures:clap :ivar :barb

[bfjr]

Hi Y'all,
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981065_7dcnF-S.jpg

My pick from this set

and I guess the ISO issue is now finally a dead one :wow

[BigAl]

Super Harry :thumb It's a lot like our Lesser Bittern - and I've had just as many problems trying to get them in the lens. When I did get them (http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/photos/232502049_fLxwM-L.jpg) in the open, they were too far away :cry

[jonh68]

I like that one too! That bird looks like spiderman by the way it moves and supports itself.

[eL eSs Vee]

Fantastic! Hard to choose, but the fourth one is my favorite! Beautiful work!

[Maestro]

Awesome series. Some of those actions shots are just spectacular and very impressive considering how shy these birds are!

[Harryb]

Perfect!

I love they way they grip with their feet!

Nice shots Harry,

Z


Thanks Z. While I was processing the images it was the feet that really caught my attention. The bittern's feet are just about perfect for its environment and for its hunting activities.

[Harryb]

Man Harry,

Those shots of the neck strech and going in for the kill made me saw wow so loud my wife came in the room to see what I was looking at:wink!

As always very nice work!:thumb I am coming down to visit my folks next spring. They are near Clewiston by Okechoobe (sorry spelling). When I say see my folks I really just plan to follow you around to see how you do it!:bow :bow :bow

Thanks Jim and I'll see you next spring.

[Harryb]

Pretty cool. I didn't have much luck spotting these guys at MIV..even with 8-10 other eyes trying to guide mine in the correct direction. :D Well done Harry.

Thanks Mike and I have a very hard time spotting them too.

[jdmphoto]

Outstanding! I see hard work and persistence pays off.:bow

[Harryb]

I'm trying to think of another word to use since WOW has already been used. These are awesome. Put great equipment in the hands of a real photographer and this is what happens.:clap :clap :clap

Thanks very much Keith.

[Harryb]

what great luck Harry, good for you. Fantastic captures:clap :ivar :barb



Thanks Dave it was an interesting time. First there was a photo workshop of German photographers there and around 10 of them came over and set up their tripods and started shooting away.

I had to switch from my 500mm to my 300mm and 1.7 TC to get the mobility to shoot around and through the Germans. I'm still don't know how ten Germans found out about the Viera Wetlands.

After the Germnas moved on I got my bean bag out and took some more shots with my 500mm while stretched out on the ground (not so easy at my age anymore).

I had to avoid the fire ant hills (the whole place is infested with those SOBs) and then I had this little fella hanging out a few feet away.
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268973440_wCwjD-XL.jpg

For some unknown reasons, unlike every other gator I ran into, it wasn't bothered by humans and instead of hightailing it into the water it stayed put. I almost stepped on it a couple of times.

[Harryb]

My pick from this set

and I guess the ISO issue is now finally a dead one :wow

Thanks Ben and with the D3 ISO is prety much a dead issue.

[Ric Grupe]

:roflI've got the fever...now if I only had some Bitterns to shoot!

Fine set of images, Harry. :thumb

This one is a 9.9!

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/268981065_7dcnF-L.jpg

[Harryb]

Super Harry :thumb It's a lot like our Lesser Bittern - and I've had just as many problems trying to get them in the lens. When I did get them (http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/photos/232502049_fLxwM-L.jpg) in the open, they were too far away :cry

Thanks Al and your image is my usual view of those suckers. They have been coming out a tad lately in Viera and I figure I'd better get as many captures again because I don't expect it to last.

[Harryb]

I like that one too! That bird looks like spiderman by the way it moves and supports itself.

Thanks Jon. It was fascinating to see the bittern manuever htrough the reeds using those amazing feet of his/hers.

[Harryb]

Fantastic! Hard to choose, but the fourth one is my favorite! Beautiful work!

Thank you Lee, that's one of my favorites too

[Harryb]

Awesome series. Some of those actions shots are just spectacular and very impressive considering how shy these birds are!

Thanks Stephen, I don't know what made them drop their stealth mode I'm just lucky I was there when they did.

[jwear]

this set does make me a little bitter :huh :D

[Harryb]

Outstanding! I see hard work and persistence pays off.:bow

Thnak you, if you go out often enough sooner or later you will see something fascinating.

[Harryb]

this set does make me a little bitter :huh :D

:lol

Thanks Jeff

[Gale]

Nice going Harry.
I know what a bugger they are to shoot.
Nice shots.

I woke up to SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Harryb]

Nice going Harry.
I know what a bugger they are to shoot.
Nice shots.

I woke up to SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Gale it was just luck that we were there when they decided to come out.

No one should have to wake up to snow. I think there's something in the Constitution about that.

[raptorcaptor]

Excellent work Harry! :clap