The weather Wednesday was still windy and cool. However we, Ann and I, did get out for a little bit. We took a little drive through Middle Concho Park again. This time I got images of another Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), and an Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis). The heron was on the other side of the river. I maneuvered the car down near the bank so I could shoot it from my drivers’ side window. I rested my Canon 7D with 1.4 tele-converter on the Puffin’ Pad on the sill. Even with the wind, it was still a stable platform. Exposed at 1/1250 sec. @ f7.1, ISO 250.
Great Blue Heron in tree
Also, along the river we spotted an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), flying overhead. I grabbed my other Canon EOS 76 with a Canon 100-400mm lens attached, hopped from the car to see if I could get an inflight shot. This is the result. The bird was pretty high up and back-lit so I had to crop it extensively to produce this photo. Not the best image, but I wanted to show it to you anyway. Exposure 1/2000 sec @ f5.6, ISO 100.
Osprey in flight
Later, as we were driving through some of the roads in the park we saw this Eastern Bluebird in a tree off to the left. It was in the shade, making exposure a little difficult. I used the same set-up as I did with the heron. Exposed at 1/640 sec. @f5.6 +0.3EV, ISO 200.
So all in all, the trip wasn’t wasted. The weather is starting to heat up again over the weekend so hopefully it will be a more comfortable time to get out to get some more photographs. For these, click on any of them to see an enlargement.
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 
Great shots, Bob! Love the Heron in the tree and the Osprey. The Osprey is also making quite a comeback in this country after many years of hard effort by the RSPB, particularly in Scotland. I love the cute little Eastern Bluebird! I hope you gave him Weight Watchers phone number ‘cos he looks as if he has just dumped what looks like a fat little body down on that branch! I am not serious; I am assuming he had fluffed his feathers up for some reason!
Cheers
John
Thank you very much, John.
WOW Bob, love all three! You do get lucky…..and I’m glad, I enjoy every capture!
Thanks, Donna, the more I practice, the luckier I get. 🙂
Excellent shots, Bob- it was hot here last week too, which was a couple months early to be in the 80s here in Ohio.
Thanks so much, Tracy. I did hear about all of your hot weather.
Beautiful Great Blue Heron, Bob. Actually, what did I say in my last post? I Bow to You Now Great God of Bird Photography LOL. Seriously, beautiful!
Wow! Sheila, if you keep saying these nice things, my hat won’t fit anymore. You’re a hoot!! That’s Texan for a funny friend. Really, I appreciate all of those nice things that you say about my work. 🙂
Feels so good to see this birds. Great pics. 🙂
Thank you very much, Nandini. 🙂
What a stunning pic of the heron! The detail is amazing. And the bluebird is so cute – he looks as if he’s talking to you! How are you liking your new camera, Bob?
Thank you so much, Jo. I like that new SX40 pretty well when I have to use it. However, understandibly, it can’t compete with my Canon 7Ds, one of which I used for the Heron photo.
Yes, you can definitely see the quality of the camera and lens in the heron photo!
Do you think that Blue Heron is part human? He’s my favorite. I need to buy your best one in your archives for my walls.
Thank you very much, Martina. My best Heron photos are in my Flickr album. Click on the Flickr logo on the right side of this page. The herons are in my “birds” album. Pick one out and let me know which one, by image number. Then let me know what size, etc., if you would like a print only, or a framed ready to hang. I appreciate this very much. My e-mail is: bobzeller1@aol.com
Even though you say the osprey in flight isn’t a perfect picture, I really like it – looks almost like a painting!
Thanks, Julia, I appreciate it.
What a unique shot..heron in the tree is most unusual sight..our herons on the lake already. Blue bird is a sure sign of spring.. days are warmer now, busy planting seeds in the starter trays and will be opening up the green house shortly. Lots of small birds arriving daily at the feeders..winter is almost over for the Colorado high country..although April can dump a foot of snow…lol hopefully not this year.
I think spring has sprung, Syl. 🙂
Nice images as usual – I really enjoyed the Heron in the tree photo. It looks so out of place in the tree – even though I know that’s natural for them, the times I see them the are always along water or flying 🙂
Thanks so much for the comment, Shelly. I agree, they don’s seem natural in the trees. 🙂
We’re having Texas spring here in Michigan, record highs almost everyday this week. Send the cool weather you’re having this way, and I’ll send the heat your way, sound like a deal?
I think our cool weather is finally finished here, looking at the forecast. Thanks for the offer the offer though. Nice to hear from you, Jerry.
Cool air is headed here starting tomorrow. I’ll miss the southern warmth!
Come on down here. It is warming up. 🙂
Come on down here. It is warming up again. 🙂
Some really lovely photos today Bob. Things have been really frantic at work, and I’m way behind in reading the blogs that I enjoy, and it’s been several weeks since I’ve posted to my own blog. I’m trying to catch up, and I’ve started with you. 🙂
No problem, Linda. I appreciate hearing from you any time. 🙂
WOW these are fantastic Bob!!! The clarity is amazing!
Gosh, Thank you very much, David. I appreciate it.
I am waiting for my herons to come back after watching your work all winter i am going to try and get photos of them this summer, they sleep in the big tree by our bedroom! c
Id’ be happy to see some of your photos, Cecilia. 🙂
Lovely images Bob, love the Great Blue in the tree.
Thanks, Mia. I really appreciate your kind comment.
Great shot, Bob! That Blue Heron photo is just amazing.
Thanks, Gracie, I really appreciate it. 🙂
Very nice shots Bob! 🙂
Thanks, H.J.