Steve'sDigicams

jhacker · Sep 5, 2007, 10:11 PM

I spent a couple of days in the Great Bend, Kansas area at the Cheyenne Bottoms State Wildlife Area and the Quivera National Wildlife area. Both are wetlands areas and both are full of water right now, that's kind of unusual for this time of year. Right now there are a bunch of herrons, egrets, pelicans, kingfishers. The officers at the parks said from mid-October to late November the whooping cranes and sandhill cranes, along with a bunch of other birds move in on their migration from Canada and North America to Central and South America for the winter. Getting into Cheyenne Bottoms was nearly impossible because of water on the roads, but I got several shots on the perifery.

This shot isn't real clear, but I included it because of what's in the blue herron's mouth. I couldn't tell what it was until I downloaded the shot to my computer, but I'm betting that fish weighs fully two-thirds of what that bird weighs.

jhacker · Sep 5, 2007, 10:17 PM

This green herron also caught a meal, but his eyes weren't bigger than his throat like his cousin.

jhacker · Sep 5, 2007, 10:18 PM

Another shot of the green herron

jhacker · Sep 5, 2007, 10:19 PM

One of these birds is an egret and one is a herron, I don't know which

jhacker · Sep 5, 2007, 10:20 PM

One of these birds was not happy I was taking its picture

jhacker · Sep 5, 2007, 10:21 PM

Blue Herrons were everywhere

jhacker · Sep 5, 2007, 10:23 PM

A kingfisher, there were dozens more, and I shot over 700 pictures in two days. I did crop most of these, but the istDL got a workout this week.

mtngal · Sep 5, 2007, 10:45 PM

The bird taking off (and the big one in focus in the first egret picture) looks like a Great Egret to me. The smaller one I would have guessed was a Snowy Egret, but when I looked into my field guide, there's a Little Blue Heron that can be confused with an immature Snowy Egret. Never noticed that one before - so thanks for introducing me to a new bird.

Love all of these, the second one is my favorite.

Driver3 · Sep 6, 2007, 7:02 AM

Great photos. They must be on the way to see me this winter!

MtnGal was right on theGreat Egret. The black legs are a dead giveaway.

The kingfisher shot, is that a crop? The only time I see them they are going about 100mph the other way!LOL:-)

Here is a great site for bird id's.

.http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/

jhacker · Sep 6, 2007, 7:45 AM

Yeah, the kingfisher is a crop. I was about 60 feet away using a 300 mm zoom. It's only the second time I've gotten the chance to shoot a kingfisher.

Sep 5, 2007, 10:11 PM	#1
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	I spent a couple of days in the Great Bend, Kansas area at the Cheyenne Bottoms State Wildlife Area and the Quivera National Wildlife area. Both are wetlands areas and both are full of water right now, that's kind of unusual for this time of year. Right now there are a bunch of herrons, egrets, pelicans, kingfishers. The officers at the parks said from mid-October to late November the whooping cranes and sandhill cranes, along with a bunch of other birds move in on their migration from Canada and North America to Central and South America for the winter. Getting into Cheyenne Bottoms was nearly impossible because of water on the roads, but I got several shots on the perifery. This shot isn't real clear, but I included it because of what's in the blue herron's mouth. I couldn't tell what it was until I downloaded the shot to my computer, but I'm betting that fish weighs fully two-thirds of what that bird weighs. Attached Images

Sep 5, 2007, 10:17 PM	#2
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	This green herron also caught a meal, but his eyes weren't bigger than his throat like his cousin. Attached Images

Sep 5, 2007, 10:18 PM	#3
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	Another shot of the green herron Attached Images

Sep 5, 2007, 10:19 PM	#4
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	One of these birds is an egret and one is a herron, I don't know which Attached Images

Sep 5, 2007, 10:20 PM	#5
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	One of these birds was not happy I was taking its picture Attached Images

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Sep 5, 2007, 10:21 PM	#6
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	Blue Herrons were everywhere Attached Images

Sep 5, 2007, 10:23 PM	#7
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	A kingfisher, there were dozens more, and I shot over 700 pictures in two days. I did crop most of these, but the istDL got a workout this week. Attached Images

Sep 5, 2007, 10:45 PM	#8
mtngal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Frazier Park, CA Posts: 16,177	The bird taking off (and the big one in focus in the first egret picture) looks like a Great Egret to me. The smaller one I would have guessed was a Snowy Egret, but when I looked into my field guide, there's a Little Blue Heron that can be confused with an immature Snowy Egret. Never noticed that one before - so thanks for introducing me to a new bird. Love all of these, the second one is my favorite.

Sep 6, 2007, 7:02 AM	#9
Driver3 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 481	Great photos. They must be on the way to see me this winter! MtnGal was right on theGreat Egret. The black legs are a dead giveaway. The kingfisher shot, is that a crop? The only time I see them they are going about 100mph the other way!LOL:-) Here is a great site for bird id's. .http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/

Sep 6, 2007, 7:45 AM	#10
jhacker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 161	Yeah, the kingfisher is a crop. I was about 60 feet away using a 300 mm zoom. It's only the second time I've gotten the chance to shoot a kingfisher. Attached Images

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