The Reptile

[dankearl]

American Bittern, one of three I saw this past weekend in a local refuge.
It must be mating season as this is a record for me.
They creep me out, though, a very interesting reptilian like bird.

1/800
f5
420mm (300 w/ 1.4)
iso400
Almost full frame (I thought the close up really shows the lizard quality)
Nikon D7000

DSC_7141nx.jpg (http://www.birdphotographers.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=108119&stc=1&d=1328056868)

[John Chardine]

Really smart Dan. Fantastic colour on the feet. Love the pose. A very difficult bird bird you have a good portrait here. I would tone down the light branch top right.

[Carmelo Cannova]

Love the pose, it makes this shot.

Carmelo

[Arthur Morris]

Very nice on all counts. Love the raised foot. EXP good and framing is pleasant. A bit off the top for a pano look would place more emphasis on that really beautiful bird.

[Grace Scalzo]

Great to catch him mid stride. Not easy to find these unobstruced (at least by me) and you did well! I like how the green grasses match his feet.

[Nick Palmieri]

This is so cool. Great capture and nice detail in the bird. Love the foot position. I may consider toning down the BG a bit. TFS

[Steve Canuel]

Nice job Dan. Really captured this one in hunting mode. Like how the color of the legs blends in with the greener stalks.

[Jeroen Stel]

Excellent pose and detail. Love that raised foot and nice to see the American counterpart of our Bitterns.

greetings,

Jeroen Stel

[christopher galeski]

nice image Dan,good pose,you have done well.thanks.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Dan, Great find, and just love the pose. Good DOF, sharp, and although always in a busy BG and surroundings, having this guy in the open would have been a killer shot.

[Robert Holguin]

A wonderful image you have here. Love the pose especially the raised foot, great habitat, and excellent detail.
Well done.

[Pieter de Waal]

Hi Dan , a great image of this species. Like the posture and excellent feather detail in this image. TFS.

[dankearl]

Thanks for all the comments.
Stuart, I would love to get one in the open, but I have never seen one that wasn't deep in the grasses.
There do seem to be a lot in the refuge, maybe sometime.

[Jim Crosswell]

Nice image Dan! I like the raised foot, detail and setting.