There is a heron rookery within a mile and half of my house that most years has upwards of 100 nests or so. The problem with it is that it is on land closed to the public, so you can't get close, and anywhere that has a view to it is too far away. It's fun to go see the activity there but it just isn't any good for photography. This year the bald eagles have finally discovered it, nobody ever said they were smart birds as THEY have a nest within a half mile or so of the rookery . Anyway the eagles have decimated this years hatch of herons so the herons picked up house and moved to another location. Luckily this location is extremely easy to get near, close in angles are difficult due to trees blocking but there are many other great angles to shoot flyers from. I have been working the area quite heavily whenever the light has been good this past week, either before work or after moving shooting locations as they light shifts. It's been a lot of fun, this location is about 10 minutes away so I can get there easily Here are just a few of the big guys flying around with sticks, many more to come with different backgrounds and such. Enjoy, C&C as always!
What? Bald eagles aren't smart? No way. Seriously, these are great to see, reminds me a bit of the Venice Rookery, where GBHs are as common as cormies!
Actually, I think GBHs are really challenging to shoot...they're beautiful both in portrait and in flight, those courtship crests are amazing, but somehow it's always difficult to capture more than one of those things at a time. My favorite here is the last one, because the foliage frames the wings nicely, the underside of the bird is beautifully exposed, and the nesting material almost looks like a wreath around the bird's neck. (I probably would have pushed the vibrance, clarity (and maybe contrast), more in post, but that might have led to more of a caricature than a photo). In any case, It's a beautiful composition.
Looks like the GBH Construction Co. is hard at work. I really like the third and fifth ones, the third because of the lighting, and the last because the spread of it's wings and how the foliage wraps around it...It's what drew to the one above it at first, but the background is a little less interesting in that one.
So, you do have blue skies in Seattle!
Very nice job on these, Tim. GBH have a very cool, almost ceremonial behavior building nests and it is always fun to watch them.
I like #4 best, even if the whites look a bit hot
Well done, my friend.
Socrate
Great shots Tim... the first is my favorite!
Sadly, the late spring in MN has made it impossible for me to do my annual heron rookery work. It's one of my April highlights... getting on a canoe and paddling out to the island where the birds next in seclusion. With ice on the St. Croix late and then the sudden leaf-out, it became an impossibility for me. So, I will live my fun vicariously through your great work.
cheers,
bruce
May 21, 2013 at 01:19 PM
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So you are saying the eagles destroyed the young herons Wow didn't know that. I ask because at Teds pond there is a huge heron rookery with hundreds of herons that seem to peacefully coexist with 3 to 400 eagles in a confined space in the fall. Even now there are some eagles there. Interesting.
Always good to have a location like this close to home.
Very nice shots, Tim. There's something about the "hanging up in the sky" pose in the first image that I like very much.
Looking forward to see more.
Chris
Plinian wrote:
What? Bald eagles aren't smart? No way. Seriously, these are great to see, reminds me a bit of the Venice Rookery, where GBHs are as common as cormies!
Actually, I think GBHs are really challenging to shoot...they're beautiful both in portrait and in flight, those courtship crests are amazing, but somehow it's always difficult to capture more than one of those things at a time. My favorite here is the last one, because the foliage frames the wings nicely, the underside of the bird is beautifully exposed, and the nesting material almost looks like a wreath around the bird's neck. (I probably would have pushed the vibrance, clarity (and maybe contrast), more in post, but that might have led to more of a caricature than a photo). In any case, It's a beautiful composition.
Yes Greg, the cormies left and not a week went by and the herons took over! These birds are a challenge I will agree with you there. The one with the garland of leaves got a big smile out of me while looking through the viewfinder, you can be sure of that. Thanks Greg!
ScottHM wrote:
Looks like the GBH Construction Co. is hard at work. I really like the third and fifth ones, the third because of the lighting, and the last because the spread of it's wings and how the foliage wraps around it...It's what drew to the one above it at first, but the background is a little less interesting in that one.
Thanks for the thoughts and nice words Scott. I agree about the blue being a poor background, these guys are high up so most of the time that's all you get
as THEY have a nest within a half mile or so of the rookery 
. Anyway the eagles have decimated this years hatch of herons so the herons picked up house and moved to another location. Luckily this location is extremely easy to get near, close in angles are difficult due to trees blocking but there are many other great angles to shoot flyers from. I have been working the area quite heavily whenever the light has been good this past week, either before work or after moving shooting locations as they light shifts. It's been a lot of fun, this location is about 10 minutes away so I can get there easily 
Here are just a few of the big guys flying around with sticks, many more to come with different backgrounds and such. Enjoy, C&C as always!
Wow didn't know that. I ask because at Teds pond there is a huge heron rookery with hundreds of herons that seem to peacefully coexist with 3 to 400 eagles in a confined space in the fall. Even now there are some eagles there. Interesting.
