Glover Pond with Great Blue Herons and White-faced Ibis

Great Blue Heron in landing position – Nikon D7100, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

Yesterday I focused on a few wading birds I saw at Glover Pond near the Great Salt Lake Nature Center and that include Great Blue Herons and White-faced Ibis. The rare Little Blue Heron didn’t show but these birds did. There were a few Great Blue Herons foraging the now shallow water and the two that were the closest appeared to be hatch year birds. This one was coming in for a landing.

Great Blue Heron a split second after landing – Nikon D7100, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

And this is the same bird a split second later. I like how the wings seem thrown forward. The light was getting bad by the time I photographed the Great Blue making the water appear silver colored.

Great Blue Heron in Glover Pond – Nikon D7100, f9, 1/800, ISO 400, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

One of the young Great Blues Herons came in close enough that I was able to get some full frame shots by turning my camera vertical. I have found that this is something that doesn’t happen often for me because the Great Blue Herons are far more skittish here in Utah than they were in Florida. Maybe it was because this heron is still young.

Foraging White-faced Ibis – Nikon D7100, f8, 1/800, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I was also able to get some close up images of White-faced Ibis as they foraged in Glover Pond. They are in their nonbreeding plumage now but the colors that show in their feathers are marvelous.

Preening White-faced Ibis – Nikon D7100, f8, 1/500, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

There is bronze, russet, gold along with blues, greens, violets and pinks. The White-faced Ibis are here in the thousands during the breeding season and before too long they will head south.

White-faced Ibis portrait – Nikon D7100, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 1250, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

One of the ibis came in so close I just decided to go for portrait shots and although this image doesn’t show all the beautifully colored body plumage I do like the details shown in the curved bill, eye, face and neck.

Glover Pond with Great Blue Herons and White-faced Ibis was so much fun to photograph.

Life is good.

Mia

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