Juvenile Black Crowned Night Herons

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Went back to take at look at how the night herons near our house were doing. Looks like they are doing well and I saw a lot of juveniles.. it made me happy so I am sharing the news that this large flock is doing very well.

I think they are juveniles because of the plumage, not the punk rock hair do ;D
I personally like this image because they remind me of punk rock juveniles waiting to mug someone..

Nikon D60, Sigma 70-300 APO-DG at 300mm, ISO100, F5.6, handheld

This other image I also like because it is not everyday that one can get a picture of a bird from the front and back.. in the same frame!


Please pardon the poor composition as both images are untouched, full frame, just converted to jpeg.

Thanks for looking!

[Toto Gamboa]

uy! nice shot!

[Lydia Robledo]

Near your house... how lucky can you get!
Nice captures Edu. telyds

[aries]

beautiful shots

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks for sharing these pics. Its been a while since I have seen an immature BCNH.

[Sylvia Ramos]

Nice!! I like the punk hair! I wonder when their eyes will turn red.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Thanks to all of the kind words..

@toto, Luck has a lot to do with these.. hahah!

@telyds, "near" is relative. I can walk from MRT(Ayala Station) to Herrera and I call it near. These are not walking distance but near. I think I just confused myself..

aries, thank you very much

Tonji Ramos, if you want to see them.. just give a holler!

Sylvia Ramos, I cannot be exact but by my estimate, these "punks" are about three weeks old. Will wait 'till they molt into adult feathers and keep track of the eyes.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

I have also observed them to sometimes "play" with one another. The raised feathers I think is a part of either the game, or an exercise to look bigger. These two often cross their bills in a sort of swordfight, then when one 'wins' the other bows his head while the 'winner' gives a series of loud "kaws" while slowly shaking its head left and right as if saying "I'm the main man here okay?!?" Here is another pic of these two juvies when they are getting along with each other.

Cropped and PP'ed a bit. Same shooting settings.


Here is an adult that I reeeeeally want to share.. it looks like a twig is growing out of its head

[Manny Illana]

whoa! that last pic reminds me of the olive wreaths worn by the romans.....
hahaha! cool shot...

[Ely Teehankee]

Hi Edu. Nice shots of the BCNH. I guess I better take their picture now before its too late.
Thank you for sharing.

[Romy Ocon]

Wow.... if these guys are near your house, you have an excellent opportunity to record them up close...... you might need to build a make-shift blind so they will not be conscious of your regular presence. Nice job, Edu!

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

I think they are used to me already, I try to wear the same shirt everytime I go there. And I DO NOT go there everyday

@ely, it might not be too late as locals say these birds are there almost all year round. And I have also seen that early morning is feeding time and I caught a peek at a few little ones during feeding.

[Ed Matuod]

Cute and Mean! Cute for the juveniles and mean for the adult. Thanks for sharing.

[Elvin Sansona]

Or you can call them the little rascals! Nice catch! Congrats!

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Thanks ed and knightvin!

[Dennis Alfaro]

nice shot edu. looks like punk nga

[Ronnie Dominguez]

very nice shots, I like the punk hair too.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Jun 21, 2009 1:37:35 GMT Sylvia Ramos said:

Nice!! I like the punk hair! I wonder when their eyes will turn red.

This question has been on my mind since I read it.. been watching the juveniles and waiting for the eyes to turn red. Apparently the plumage changes before the eye color.


Nikon D90 300mm at F5, 1/250, ISO 200


The top of the head already looks like a mature BCNH but the body is still a juvie. I guess this is a teen-ager? ;D


Allow me to squeeze in two other photos that I personally like..

This one I like because of the pose..


and this one I like because the light reflected to the body gives a nice suggestion of the size and shape of the breast part.


Will photo and post as soon as I see one with red eyes.

[Mark Itol]

Nice shots, Edu. And they're near your house!

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

Thanks mark! not as near as I wish but oh well.. we can't always get what we want.