Charlie and the Nature Factory [Warning: Stunningly Beautiful Large Photo Images]
- Thread starter Silver King
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I don't know what kind of bird this is. I took the picture in Bradenton at the Hernando de Soto park. It had rained recently and it's taking a bath in a rain puddle that formed near the Manatee River.
Wow! What a beautiful shot. Love the colors.And now for something completely different...
It looks like a great blue heron, but it's hard to say for sure at that distance.
I don't know what kind of bird this is. I took the picture in Bradenton at the Hernando de Soto park. It had rained recently and it's taking a bath in a rain puddle that formed near the Manatee River.
Yes! And if it's half as good as your thread title idea, it'll be a hit.
Here's a closer view of a great blue for Lyra to see if she can recall if her bird resembled this one:
They're not easily approachable and have earned their nickname, Big Cranky, for good reason.
One of them jabbed a friend of mine with its beak while he was trying to clear a tangled mess of fishing line from its wings. The blow was swift and struck him hard near the corner of his right eye. His head snapped back and he fell bleeding as if he'd been punched in the face.
While he recovered his senses, he swore that he'd break that bird's neck. I removed my my t-shirt and placed it over the heron's head, easily subduing her, then cut away the fishing line before my friend could make good on his threat. She flew off, squawking the whole way.
That damn thing is all neck, Dino.Yes! And if it's half as good as your thread title idea, it'll be a hit.
Here's a closer view of a great blue for Lyra to see if she can recall if her bird resembled this one:
They're not easily approachable and have earned their nickname, Big Cranky, for good reason.
One of them jabbed a friend of mine with its beak while he was trying to clear a tangled mess of fishing line from its wings. The blow was swift and struck him hard near the corner of his right eye. His head snapped back and he fell bleeding as if he'd been punched in the face.
While he recovered his senses, he swore that he'd break that bird's neck. I removed my my t-shirt and placed it over the heron's head, easily subduing her, then cut away the fishing line before my friend could make good on his threat. She flew off, squawking the whole way.
It is, and it's packed with all kinds of attitude. No other birds hang out with them; as soon as they show up, the place scatters as they take over the area, alone.
Their smaller cousins, the little blues, are far more sociable and often share the same feeding areas with other birds.
Such as this one, pictured alone but wouldn't mind a little company:
Please note this is a tricolored heron, not a little blue heron. More about that here.
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Aw, the little blues are SOO cute!
There's a big blue that hangs out on a pier near here that doesn't mind people, so much. He keeps a close eye, but he lets us get pretty close.
There's a big blue that hangs out on a pier near here that doesn't mind people, so much. He keeps a close eye, but he lets us get pretty close.
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Those are some great photos of herons, SK. Are they used to humans being around or do you have an awesome camera with an even more awesome zoom?
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The bird might be a little blue heron. I didn't think to use the zoom too much on my camera. I had just gotten it and still learning the ins and outs.
It met an unfortunate canoe accident a few years later. While I didn't physically lose it. It took a complete dunk in the river.
It met an unfortunate canoe accident a few years later. While I didn't physically lose it. It took a complete dunk in the river.
Have you ever seen the darker colored ones? They're the same size, yet their head and neck areas have a maroon tinge that's striking.
I've seen similar great blues hang around bait shops and marinas, and one has been traveling for years on a friend's boat when he's out crabbing.
One of the coolest things I've ever witnessed happened one evening when I was having drinks with some friends on their dock. A rat appeared nearby, and before I could jump onto the table out of
I use a Nikon D80 with three main lenses: 18-135mm, 55-200mm and 70-300mm. I usually make up my mind before leaving the house which one to mount, depending on what I'm in the mood to shoot at the time. It never fails, though, that I wish I'd brought one or both of the two I left behind when certain situations arise. But I'm lazy and prefer not to lug around extra lenses.
What's more important than quality equipment, I think, is being in the right position at the right time. It takes patience and some study of the subjects, along with a stealthy approach. After a while, you can almost predict what the animal will do and anticipate the shot before it happens. That's what works best for me, as I can't ever seem to swing my camera into position fast enough to take unexpected shots. Oh I try, of course, all the time; but they never seem to turn out very well.
Does this look more like it?
As I mentioned in my previous post, some little blues have darker coloring. I could be misidentifying the bird, however, so don't take my word for it!
...
I've seen similar great blues hang around bait shops and marinas, and one has been traveling for years on a friend's boat when he's out crabbing....
I remember the movie Father Goose, with Cary Grant. There was a pelican that would periodically appear. This is the only online clip of it that I could find. It's during the opening credits of the movie with the song Pass Me By.
Does this look more like it?
As I mentioned in my previous post, some little blues have darker coloring. I could be misidentifying the bird, however, so don't take my word for it!
SK, I love this photo. It is now my desktop.
We had one of the big blue herons that came to our pond where I worked. He would usually fly off when anyone came out, but I ate my lunch there by the pond, and he starting staying after he got to know my (boring) habits
Oh, and my brother's current wildlife interaction made ESPN today, lol! I had literally just watched it on youtube, and it came on during the NC State VA game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21XBFaG5zGY
Ratatouille The Snowboarding Opossum
This is what my brother does at work
Oh, and my brother's current wildlife interaction made ESPN today, lol! I had literally just watched it on youtube, and it came on during the NC State VA game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21XBFaG5zGY
Ratatouille The Snowboarding Opossum
This is what my brother does at work
That would be absolutely disgusting and yet fascinating. Birds are amazing. I love to watch the seagulls at the beach--few animals are that persistent. If they ever teamed up with squirrels, they'd rule the world.
Thank you. I think so too.
I don't know if you all realize this, but SK has gone to extreme efforts to bring us the finest in photographs--sometimes at great personal risk. For example, here he is trying to get that close up picture of the Haggisaurus he promised:
And here he is trying to get a different angle on the swamp:
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LMAO @ Haggis. Also, what a cute avi you have. Much better than that demon dog thing you had before the judge dog thing.
What shapely legs you have, SK!
And Haggis, admit it. This is just your softer, sweeter side showing.
And Haggis, admit it. This is just your softer, sweeter side showing.