Sherry Icardi
December 2025 - Great Blue Herons
About the Image(s)
About the Image(s)
This was taken at one of our Local Wetlands this past week. We are beginning the traditional time for mating rituals of GBH and I was lucky enough to watch these two begin the process of Stick Gathering and Rituals that precede mating. This is probably the most expressive of their rituals and their beauty shines through.
Taken with Sony A1 and Sony FE 300mm F/2.8 GM OSS and a 1.4 Teleconverter.
420 mm
F4.0
1/2500 sec
ISO400
5 comments posted
Another amazing shot, Sherry. Love the action and colors. Our great blues don't start building nests until spring when most return to our area. We have a few spend the winter, but they aren't thinking about mating... just staying warm. Posted: 12/10/2025 03:49:02
Beautiful light on the herons in this attractive pose. Great composition! An awesome shot! If I had to be a little picky, I would suggest having a little bit more room at the bottom so that the entire feet of the left heron is visible. Posted: 12/10/2025 19:26:28
Unfortunately the feet are buried in the sticks, this is their nest that is in the process of being "built" and the feet are not visible at all. She had just finished inserting a new stick. I actually have quit a it of space that I cropped off...do you think that just extending the crop despite no visible feet provides the "feeling of feet" ? Posted: 12/13/2025 01:33:34
Great shot, Sherry...one of my favorite photos you have ever posted, IMHO.
As you know, this kind of behavior isn't all that uncommon on Florida, but getting all of the elements (pose, light, background, etc.) working together in one shot is a challenge.
Agree with Sarita on the crop, but otherwise a first rate image! Posted: 12/12/2025 20:21:31
As you know, this kind of behavior isn't all that uncommon on Florida, but getting all of the elements (pose, light, background, etc.) working together in one shot is a challenge.
Agree with Sarita on the crop, but otherwise a first rate image! Posted: 12/12/2025 20:21:31
Thanks Peter, I'll ask the same question I did of Sarita...her feet are not visible even in the original, they are buried in the beginning of their nest...do you think just extending the crop at the bottom would suffice , no matter what I do the feet are not visible? Posted: 12/13/2025 16:18:02