The Little Wingman

Here's a shot from late last spring. One particularly nice evening, I went for a drive after dinner and stopped by a small stream on a farm road a few miles from my home to try and photograph red-winged blackbirds and tree swallows picking insects out the air as they hatched off the water. I found a comfortable position to shoot hand-held sitting on the top of a culvert (where the stream passed under the road), dangled my feet and just enjoying the sun on my back. As I was tracking a blackbird making his way back to a perch, something startled me, coming straight at me in the viewfinder. Best I can figure is that the heron had been fishing around the next bend of the stream and when he decided to relocate, came flying around the corner below the level of the cattails just above the water. After the heron came into view, the red-winged blackbird was on him right away. As the heron gained a bit of elevation to clear the road, he kindly banked a bit toward me (and the sun) and I was able to get several good frames.

Canon 5DII -- 70-200L f2.8 IS w/ 1.4x TC @ 280mm - f9 @ 1/1250s

Cropped from horizontal

Attachment 82007

Beautiful flight pose and details on the GBH. The BWB is a nice addition to the scene.

This is such an interesting image. Love it!
The flight pose is superb on both of them. Really enjoyed reading your write-up as well.
Thanks for sharing.

I really like this one. Great pose given by both birds, they also look sharp with fine details and good light too. What I like most is the the scenic background. I also like the composition and how the lower right corner branches help frame the subject. TFS

You must had a wonderful time.

This one works very well. I love the habitat, and the interesting cloud-filled sky. Of course, the RWB is a cool bonus! Except for the RWB and the heron's face I feel like the image could use a bit of a contrat boost, and I would remove the small darkish spot near the top wing. All else looks great!!:cool:

Enjoyed your write-up too...I felt like I was right there, with the sun warming my back (on this chilly November evening)

Absolutely wonderful to read. Does make a difference when someone so nicely writes about an encounter. :) Lovely pose on the heron and great to see the RWBB as well. I agree with Daniel, it does need a little punch. That was my very first thought. TFS. :)

Great double Jeff, and I like the dorsal view of the heron. Good separation of the heron from the BG too.

Great double. IMG is sharp and well exposed with good natural colours. Well done.