Can You Spell B-a-l-a-n-c-e? (Re-post)

(This post originally posted in June 2010)

With fish fry now in the local Conservation area, there will soon be Belted Kingfishers and Green Herons fishing the area I kayak. So far, I have seen both species, but they are not actively fishing. I believe that when the fish are a bit bigger, the birds will be there on a steady basis. Photographing the Green Heron fishing is so much fun for me. And I’m totally amazed how well-balanced this bird is, often leaning out way beyond the body. This post contains a series of images of a Green Heron (Butorides virescens) taken at this same location during one of last summers’ kayak outings.

In this first image, the heron takes aim on a small fish and is patiently waiting for it to come just a bit close to the surface:

Green Heron targets an incoming fish

 

In the next image, the Green Heron lunges for the fish, with blazing speed, extending way beyond his clenched feet:

Green Heron catching a small fish

 

In this next image, the Green Heron is returning to his perch, with small fish in his beak. As you can see, the size of the fish is quite small, maybe 2-inches max:

Green Heron with fish

 

Having downed the caught fish, the Green Heron now sets his sight on more, incoming fish. Like the saying goes, “Can’t eat just one!”:

Green Heron tracking fish

 

I think you will agree that the Green Heron has tremendous balance. Like the Green Heron, I’m patiently waiting, with camera drawn, for the fishing to begin!

Posted in Nature Photography, Photography from a kayak
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