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“Just try to keep up, fat boy!”

May 27, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

“Just try to keep up, fat boy!”
A great blue heron performs a fast flyby of an American white pelican. (© Tony’s Takes)

Taken on my photo drive this past Monday at the local regional park. I was photographing this pelican when out of the corner of my eye I see the heron taking off from a bit further up the inlet.

I quickly swung my camera and started clicking, grabbing this shot as the pterodactyl-looking heron few by the big-billed pelican.

Both of these birds are common here in Colorado during the summer and provide some great photo opportunities.

The race is on!

April 7, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

The race is on!
Great blue herons race back to their nests with sticks. (© Tony’s Takes)

These are some crazy cool birds and fun to watch. They remind me of the prehistoric pterodactyl with their skinny bodies, long beak and massive wings. I snapped this pic recently at a suburban pond.

Wind destroyed the rookery a couple of years ago but this year the herons have returned and have at least five nests going. You face south into the nest area so it is hard to get good pics of it but can get some awesome flight shots as the birds fly back and forth to gather stuff for their homes. 

Video: Top Shots 2019 – Birds

December 23, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

When I take pics of flying creatures, I do usually focus on raptors. However, every now and then I will train my lens on less aggressive birds. From ducks to pelicans and meadowlarks to egrets, small and large have all been captured by my camera. Here are some of my favorites from the past year.

Mirror, mirror what do I see? A great blue heron on top and bottom

March 22, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Mirror, mirror what do I see? A great blue heron on top and bottom
A great blue heron stands perfectly still in a pond allowing a mirror-like reflection on the waters of a pond. (© Tony’s Takes)

I don’t know that I have ever captured a more perfect reflection of any subject matter. This gorgeous heron was hanging out at a pond at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge last weekend.

Despite being close to the road, it didn’t flinch at all when I stopped, remaining totally motionless. Beautiful weather with no wind meant the surface of the water was like a mirror reflecting the heron.

I snapped dozens of pics and compositions, liking this one the best. 

Heron on ice

February 21, 2019 by Tony

Heron on ice
A great blue heron hangs out on a frozen pond at St Vrain State Park in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
I am sure this Great Blue Heron would have preferred the water not being quite so ‘solid.’ It is pretty tough to fish through that ice. 😉

These guys do prefer fish but I have seen them tackle more earthy meals as well like mice and even prairie dogs. This particular one was hanging out on a frozen pond at St. Vrain State Park, Colorado recently, seemingly trying to figure out what / how it was going to eat.

It was watching the fisherman closely so maybe it was just hoping for a handout.  

The last thing this fish sees is a photographer taking its picture

May 14, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

The last thing this fish sees is a photographer taking its picture. 😀

Take a close look and you will see what I mean. When I got home and processed this image it kind of cracked me up. Coming home from work a couple weeks ago I stopped by a local open space. This Great Blue Heron rewarded my time with three consecutive catches of fish. Lots of fun to see it devour them whole.

A Great Blue Heron swallows a fish whole.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Blue Heron swallows a fish whole. (© Tony’s Takes)

Snowy Egrets size up an interloper

December 4, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

It never fails. You stake out a nice, quiet spot of beach to enjoy some fishing and time with the family. Along comes someone you have never seen before and despite having plenty of beach they could have to themselves, they insist on staking out a spot right among your gathering. So frustrating! 😉

There were about a dozen Snowy Egrets at this suburban pond, enjoying a nice evening. Along game this massive Great Blue Heron that decided to crash their party. The much smaller egrets weren’t quite sure how to handle the squatter and in the end, let the big guy keep the spot while they moved elsewhere.

A trio of Snowy Egrets try to decide what to do about a Great Blue Heron that has taken over their beach. (© Tony’s Takes)
A trio of Snowy Egrets try to decide what to do about a Great Blue Heron that has taken over their beach. (© Tony’s Takes)

Great Blue Heron flyby

June 11, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

It isn’t often these big birds cooperate with me but on this day, one did. It was in flight, following the South Platte River and passed at close range giving me some nice images as it did.

A Great Blue Heron flies across the blue skies of northern Colorado.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Blue Heron flies across the blue skies of northern Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Great Blue Heron against the blue Colorado sky

May 18, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

For those of you along the Colorado Front Range, you know full well this image wasn’t taken today as we are getting a late season snowstorm as I type this. 😉 The image was captured a couple weekends ago along the South Platte River north of Denver.

This cool, prehistoric looking bird had landed along the banks of the river right near me. However, the second it realized I was there, it took flight but, thankfully, did so in a direction that allowed me a nice series of flight shots.

A Great Blue Heron soars with ease above the South Platte River.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Blue Heron soars with ease above the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)

Great Blue Heron on ice

February 20, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

I usually don’t have much luck with these big birds as they tend to flee when they see me coming. On a cold morning earlier this month, this particular one was content to let me get relatively close though which was nice for a change. It was keeping watch from the edge of the ice on a pond just as the sun was coming up over the horizon. The golden light made for a pleasing capture.

These birds have small bodies but are quite tall with massive wingspans that can reach over 6 feet wide. Oftentimes found along shorelines of lakes and calm areas of rivers, Great Blue Herons are very adept at plucking fish from the waters.

A Great Blue Heron stands on the edge of the ice of a partially frozen pond in Longmont, Colorado.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Great Blue Heron stands on the edge of the ice of a partially frozen pond in Longmont, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
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