Yesterday, Ann and I decided to take another, yes, still another run down to the water treatment ponds at Eldorado, Texas. I had mentioned in previous posts, how this place was one of our favorite places to bird. It is one place where you absolutely never know what you might see. This time we were rewarded again.
When we drove in, the temperature was mild, no wind, and the waters were quite calm. We drove around and saw many of the usual species and I got several new photographs. But one of the highlights of the morning was seeing this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)as he was doing a mating dance for a nearby female.
Great Blue Heron - Mating Dance
Great Blue Heron - Mating Dance
I was so happy to get the opportunity to see and photography this ceremony. One doesn’t often get the chance to see such happenings in the wild.
I hope you enjoyed the photographs. Photographic information is as follows: Canon EOS 7D. Canon 500mm f4 lens with a 2X tele-converter, focal length 1000mm. 1/800 sec. @ f8, ISO 400. Shooting distance was approximately 250 yards. Hand-held, camera resting on window sill of my Ford Edge using my Puffin’ Pad as a cushion. As usual click on either one for an enlargement.
I’ve enjoyed catching up on your weeks posts. All so interesting as always. These captures, though…Just Wow!
So beautiful! Great photos!
Thank you, Apostol. I appreciate it.
Really wonderful pictures you have made here. Blue Herons are just so majestic you have captured this mating ritual so beautifully. The top picture is stunning!
Thanks, Karen, I appreciate your kind comments.
Great photos!
Thanks very much, Fergiemoto.
Amazing capture! I love how you captured his movements.
Gracie, thanks for commenting again, and thanks for the compliments.
A wonderful bird and a couple of great photographs!
Thank you very much, Mufidah.
Wow! These are fantastic, Bob! I once had a Blue Heron stop in my back yard and hang out by my pool for several hours here in suburban, NY. It was quite the treat and I regret not having any pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Karen. Maybe soon you will get another chance.
Beautiful photos, Bob! The graceful pose in the second photo is outstanding! A rewarding day for you and Ann!
Thanks very much, Karen. I agree, I was very lucky.
How nice that you were in just the right place at the right time to witness that ritual AND that you took such good photographs to share the experience
Thanks, Shelly, I appreciate you.
Great shots, Bob. I can almost hear a saxophone playing in the background.
Yeah, it’s playin’ “Fly me to the moon, and let us dance among the stars………”
Terrific shots!
Thank you very much, Paul.
I love this. I “stalk” a blue heron when I go on vacation to Maine, but have never gotten that close. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the great comment, Karen.
Wow, some photos of the Great Blues I’ve never seen before! Great ones and thank you!
Thanks, Katie. Like I told Holly, I was very lucky. Thanks for the compliments, Katie.
You’re right about that – people DON’T get to see something like this every day!! WOW! As soon as I saw the photo – before I saw the description – I told my husband that the bird was doing a dance, and it turns out I was right!
Fantastic capture!!
I was just in the right place at the right time. Pretty lucky. Even luckier that I was able to get a photograph or two. Thanks for the comment, Holly.
Excellent captures, Bob!
Thank you very much, Ted.
Hi Bob – He’s really strutting his stuff, isn’t he? ‘Hey, hey, hey! Look at me!!’ Any Herons I have seen close up have been standing stock still! So this is great to see! Magic photographs as usual! I have just added a Blogroll and you are on it!
Cheers
John
If I had been closer, he probably wouldn’t have moved. But he was about 250 yards away and probably didn’t see me. Thanks to my long lens, I was able to get this close-up. Original image slightly cropped. Thanks for your kind words, John. I always appreciate your comments.
Also, thanks for adding me to your blogroll. I will reciprocate.
right place right time..wonderful photos..I too did not know they did a mating ritual. We have seen the cranes do it. Absolutely awesome..
Thank you very much, Syl. I learned something, too.
Nice work Bob, I’ve been lucky to have documented that mating ritual of Great Blue Herons in Georgia. It’s an captivating moment! Congratulations!
Thanks, H.J., it was very exciting.
I didn’t know blue herons did a mating dance. Cool! Your photographs are always gorgeous.
I didn’t know they did, either, until I googled. Thanks for the compliments, Cindy.
The pictures brought tears of awe – thank you!
Wow! Thank you very much, Julie.