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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 14, 2011 13:29:38 GMT
I have long been searching for a place where I can observe Black crowned Night Herons hunt. As almost everyone knows, I have been observing them from their colony. A great place to see them breed and their habits while "home". However, I have yet to see how they hunt for food, which is mainly fish. I have been wondering if they hunted in ambush like bitterns or "dive bomb" like terns. The answer.. like terns. I went biking today with my camera in tow and I found a place where I could observe them. Bad luck though.. I was at the wrong side of what could have been a nice photo Black crowned night heron pulling up from a successful dive with a good sized Tilapia.  Although the picture isn't really good.. I have the consolation price of finally watching them hunt, and I am happy, so I am sharing.  Thank you all for taking the time to look. |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 14, 2011 13:33:09 GMT
I was also blessed with the company of a Yellow bittern that first pretended to be a blade of grass..  Camera Nikon D90 Exposure 0.001 sec (1/800) Aperture f/8.0 Focal Length 400 mm ISO Speed 200 handheld who then took the time to do a "staredown" with me..   Camera Nikon D90 Exposure 0.002 sec (1/640) Aperture f/8.0 Focal Length 400 mm ISO Speed 200 handheld |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 14, 2011 13:35:36 GMT
AND.. I was also given a short glimpse of a Little Heron giving me a fly-by. Although not so nice, I kept this image as in my eyes, the water ripples made the flight shot look faster than it really was.  Camera Nikon D90 Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1000) Aperture f/5.6 Focal Length 400 mm ISO Speed 200 handheld |
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Post by mantarey on Aug 14, 2011 13:37:20 GMT
This is actually very nice Edu in my opinion. It's a rare capture of a nocturnal bird hunting in day time. The head and eyes are relatively sharp as well as the prey. I would be proud of this capture if it were mine. |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 14, 2011 13:38:54 GMT
and finally, I would like to share a photo that I think shows the success of the Black crowned night heron in adapting to a "different" habitat. The Keneddy Guide lists the Night Heron as "uncommon" but here.. we have a view of one in an urban setting  Camera Nikon D90 Exposure 0.002 sec (1/640) Aperture f/8.0 Focal Length 400 mm ISO Speed 200 handheld Again, thank you everyone for taking the time to look at my pics. It is my pleasure sharing them. |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 14, 2011 13:45:26 GMT
This is actually very nice Edu in my opinion. It's a rare capture of a nocturnal bird hunting in day time. The head and eyes are relatively sharp as well as the prey. I would be proud of this capture if it were mine. Thank you Rey. That was my concern also, that I might not be able to watch the BCNH hunt, with it being nocturnal. But lady luck smiled on me today BTW, I think the eyes have a layer, a nictating membrane I think.. that protects the eyes when diving into water. Thank you for the kind compliments |
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Post by ppaaoolloo on Aug 14, 2011 17:42:04 GMT
Excellent images Edu. You should be one of those Nikon Pros being asked why they like Nikon. Just make sure the audio is done properly.  |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 15, 2011 9:58:11 GMT
Excellent images Edu. You should be one of those Nikon Pros being asked why they like Nikon. Just make sure the audio is done properly. Thanks, Pao. And I wish I had the same faith in my skills as you do for me. haha! |
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Post by Lawrence Lo on Aug 15, 2011 14:45:05 GMT
Wow excellent BIF shot Edu, the 1st photo is quite a big catch for that bird to swallow How do you bring your gear while biking? i know we have same set up (D90+80-400) me I attached the body to the lens on my Lowepro Flipside and get going with my MTB, however I had some bad experience after doing it for sometime, I almost damage my mounting. Any tips how you carry your gear? |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 16, 2011 14:01:19 GMT
Wow excellent BIF shot Edu, the 1st photo is quite a big catch for that bird to swallow How do you bring your gear while biking? i know we have same set up (D90+80-400) me I attached the body to the lens on my Lowepro Flipside and get going with my MTB, however I had some bad experience after doing it for sometime, I almost damage my mounting. Any tips how you carry your gear? hi Lawrence, So we have the exact same setup. I bet getting BIFs is a lot of fun yes? I always have a lot of fun with this setup on BIFs.. I take several shots then look at them then laugh at myself. ;D Anyways, I attach the lens(with lens hood attached and tripod collar removed) to the body, retract to 80mm, and put it in a narrow knapsack (I think others call it a bladder bag) in between two or four face towels. the off I go! Here is a photo of what my bag looks like  |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 16, 2011 14:02:50 GMT
BTW, I sometimes carry the bag up front, on my chest with the zipper open and the camera strap around my neck. The zipper is wide enough for me to take out the camera without taking off the bag.
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Post by Lawrence Lo on Aug 16, 2011 14:13:50 GMT
The Flipside looks like similar to what you have, but wide that it has some void spaces, however I did not put that towel to prevent the body and lens from shifting (really I realized I made mistake)
So the trick is the towel, thanks and yes BIF is fun with our setup ;D ;D
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 16, 2011 14:27:21 GMT
No prob. Hey I just noticed your location is Bacolod. I think Doc Boy mentioned you to me when we went to Granada. I just died (figuratively of course) when I saw the road to Mambucal. I would have loved to take that on with a mountain bike |
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Post by Lawrence Lo on Aug 16, 2011 14:40:41 GMT
No prob. Hey I just noticed your location is Bacolod. I think Doc Boy mentioned you to me when we went to Granada. I just died (figuratively of course) when I saw the road to Mambucal. I would have loved to take that on with a mountain bike Yes Edu Im from Bacolod and actually live in Granada, theres a lot of bike destination in bacolod. Granada is the takeoff point of some bikers to climb Arceo (alangilan ) from there you have plenty option if you go down hill on highway or trail. The Mambucal road was really great highway but have not yet tried biking there, might when Im in bacolod ;D |
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Post by Ariel Matias on Aug 17, 2011 2:48:33 GMT
Excellent skills in taking those BIF shots! Well done, Edu!
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 17, 2011 5:11:57 GMT
Yes Edu Im from Bacolod and actually live in Granada, theres a lot of bike destination in bacolod. Granada is the takeoff point of some bikers to climb Arceo (alangilan ) from there you have plenty option if you go down hill on highway or trail. The Mambucal road was really great highway but have not yet tried biking there, might when Im in bacolod ;D sounds awesome! someday.. |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 17, 2011 5:12:36 GMT
Excellent skills in taking those BIF shots! Well done, Edu! Thank you for the encouraging words sir! |
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Post by tina mallari on Aug 17, 2011 12:44:55 GMT
How can anybody not like that 3rd photo !!! Woohooo very nice shot :-) It's as if it's saying, what's this alien doing in our neck of the woods... or should I say pond |
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Post by Edu Lorenzo Jr on Aug 17, 2011 13:27:13 GMT
How can anybody not like that 3rd photo !!! Woohooo very nice shot :-) It's as if it's saying, what's this alien doing in our neck of the woods... or should I say pond Oh my.. a compliment from the Plain Idol Makes me mushy That staredown between me and the bittern lasted for several shots until it blinked. hehehe I won. |
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Post by alainpascua on Aug 17, 2011 15:17:05 GMT
Nice captures, Edu! But biking and birding, looks like you're birding or biking dangerously, my friend!
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