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Dockland

macrumors 6502a
Feb 26, 2021
968
8,944
Sweden
85mm f/1.2 - R5

Naah, it was the RF 70-200 i clearly see now (EXIF) :D

20220604_201015 copy.jpg
 
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Clix Pix

macrumors Core
Uh-oh! Has Alfred shrunk??! Actually, I was shooting Alfred, who was standing in the water, when suddenly a bird came zipping out from under the boardwalk where I was standing. Startled, I reflexively swung the camera towards him to take a look, and did a double-take. Huh?

But....Alfred was over there, to my right, still standing in the lake! I looked just to be sure. Yup! I immediately started shooting this guy as he was flying off and realized that he is significantly smaller than Alfred and although he has similar coloring, there are differences, the primary one being that he doesn't have the long legs and long neck that Alfred has. His beak is also somewhat different as well. He appears to be about the size of a Night Heron. Later at home I pulled out my copy of Birds of Virginia and determined that this new visitor or resident here is, not surprisingly, called a Little Blue Heron.

Alfred's Little Cousin.jpeg
 
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Uh-oh! Has Alfred shrunk??! Actually, I was shooting Alfred, who was standing in the water, when suddenly a bird came zipping out from under the boardwalk where I was standing. Startled, I reflexively swung the camera towards him to take a look, and did a double-take. Huh?

But....Alfred was over there, to my right, still standing in the lake! I looked just to be sure. Yup! I immediately started shooting this guy as he was flying off and realized that he is significantly smaller than Alfred and although he has similar coloring, there are differences, the primary one being that he doesn't have the long legs and long neck that Alfred has. His beak is also somewhat different as well. He appears to be about the size of a Night Heron. Later at home I pulled out my copy of Birds of Virginia and determined that this new visitor or resident here is, not surprisingly, called a Little Blue Heron.

View attachment 2026473
Wow! excellent shot! Looks like a new member is added to the family. Was this your first time spotting him?
 

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
Yes, although in thinking about it there have been a couple of times when I've seen a streak of blue-grey-beige zipping past my deck but only caught a brief glimpse and had thought it was Alfred, but it could well have been this guy, too. The other day was the first time I'd actually seen him closer up and for enough time to realize that he is a different heron than Alfred. I am hoping to see him again, preferably quietly standing somewhere so that I can get a better look at him. I'm just happy that I did lay eyes on him the other day and managed to capture an image of him in flight, too.
 
Yes, although in thinking about it there have been a couple of times when I've seen a streak of blue-grey-beige zipping past my deck but only caught a brief glimpse and had thought it was Alfred, but it could well have been this guy, too. The other day was the first time I'd actually seen him closer up and for enough time to realize that he is a different heron than Alfred. I am hoping to see him again, preferably quietly standing somewhere so that I can get a better look at him. I'm just happy that I did lay eyes on him the other day and managed to capture an image of him in flight, too.
Nicely done. It seems like due to his smaller size he is blazing fast. Going on full force with his wings all spread out. Can't even imagine how fast he was flying. Doesn't seem tired of it and is definitely out on a mission. I'm shocked you were able to capture this clear shot of him.

I wonder if he has seen Alfred around and mingled with him.
 
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Clix Pix

macrumors Core
GBH (Great Blue Herons like Alfred) are solitary feeders and keep to themselves quite a bit, although I have seen photos of lots of them nesting in the trees in rookeries (mainly in Florida) -- they have to carry on the species somehow! I suspect that the Little Blue Heron is much the same. No socializing among any of the herons around here, from what I've seen.

This little guy started out fast, but thankfully then he slowed down enough that I had time to look quickly to verify that Alfred was right where I'd last seen him and then immediately get back to photographing the new guy. Herons and Egrets are gorgeous in flight, with those large, beautiful wings. So graceful!
 
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