Great Blue Heron chicks

[wfooshee]

I first saw these last week, but didn't have any usable shots. The ones I got today are better, but not by much. I just don't have the reach needed for the location. What made today's better is the late-afternoon sun, rather than noon-time high overhead sun I shot in last week.

To illustrate the location, here's a shot of the island with my 30mm ("normal" on my DX-sensor D5000.) I suppose I could wade out to get closer, but.... no, I don't think so! The nest I'm shooting is along the top of the shrubbery, about two-thirds of the way across moving left to right.


The long shots are pixel-for-pixel 1280x960 crops from the center of the frame. (Click the images to get the 1280 version.) Not as sharp as I could wish for, but well past a reasonable distance for my 70-300 lens.
One parent standing over the three chicks.


When you have a 10-inch beak, this has to be a real exercise!


GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!!


The parent off for more fishing


Hey!!! What happened to the room service guy???!?!?!! (Compare the wing on the chick to the parent in the previous pic.)

[paulnj]

very well done for such a far shot and cropped.