Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in low lightGreat Blue Heron in pre-dawn light – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 240mm, natural light

The sun had not yet crested the eastern horizon when I photographed this Great Blue Heron as it hunted in the shallow waters on the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico. Although I could have waited for better light I wanted to capture this heron as it stalked its prey just before the golden light of dawn arrived so I laid down on the sugar sand created a nice series of images of this bird. The tide was very low that morning and that exposed an off shore sandbar that is seen on the horizon as a gray line and just above that is the Earth’s shadow.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Great Blue Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.