Nothing Beats A Great Pair of Legs

Today it's all about the long legged birds showing off at the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch.

Great Blue Heron in flight

Here are some shots from just of few of my favorite birds in flight. Or reflecting:)

Snowy Egret

If you're looking to refine your skills on capturing herons or egrets in flight, this is the place to do it.

They were everywhere.  I also got a chance to watch Great Blue Herons in a mating dance.  Very cool.

I'll part now and leave you with these incredible birds.  Until tomorrow.....

Great Egret in water as Snowy Egret lands next to its larger relative

Snowy Egret in flight

"Great" Expectations

African Brown Goose

On a slow day, I went to take a walk at Columbus Park in Tucson.  I wanted to take advantage of the cooler temps and see if I could spot something different.

Great Egret in flight

And while I didn't have lots of new sightings, I was able to capture the "Greater" birds out in the open.  Some of them were the closest I've been able to capture on camera!

Great Blue Heron

Like the Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets.  They walked slowly around me as I watched them eye up fishermen and their bait:)

But for the first time, I was able to spot wildlife and then spot people walking towards them.  And at this point, I was able to predict their trajectory as people and dogs alike spooked the birds into flight.

And that is where I set my camera waiting with great expectation for "the" shot.

Great Blue Heron in flight

It was also the perfect time of day to spot Great Egrets as the sun wasn't as strong yet to make them "glow" in the sunlight.

And so while nothing major happened, I was able to get close to some amazing birds.  There's never a dull moment while birding:)  More tomorrow....

Warp Speed!

Great Blue Heron with the Catalina mountains in the background

I know people raise their eyebrows when I say that there are Herons in the desert but as you will see, we have many of them.  And for the first time, I've figured out some photography tricks with these beautiful birds.

Two Black Crowned Night Herons flying near a California Palm.

In these shots, you will see two Black Crowned Night Herons and a Great Blue Heron in flight.  The secret??  Before humans contaminate these watering holes with their loud voices and trash, you'll find these elusive creatures at the banks or shores around the manmade lakes.  But you have to go very early before they fly off to remote areas.  I'm also learning where those are as well:)

In fact, these birds took off because several people disturbed the area.  But for the first time I was able to capture them up close and personal and it was very special.

 I didn't want to crop too close up to the bird because the mountain views are breathtaking and demonstrate how large they truly are!

It pays to get up early.  Yes at times it's terrible and I'd like to sleep in but to be honest I know I'm missing a whole lot of action out in the field. And so it's a competition to beat the sun coming up and you have to move warp speed or you'll miss out.  A little coffee, a friend like Kathie, and walk.  It's a great way to start your day:)  More tomorrow as Kathie and I explore the Dark Side of birding....