Little Blue Heron immature

[Bill Dix]

At first I thought this was a Snowy Egret - there were five of them perched together in the East Pool of JBWR last week - but on closer inspection I believe this is a young Little Blue Heron. Full-frame, from a blind. Full disclosure: I was so close, and with no ability to move back in the confines of the blind, that I couldn't get the stray hairs on the head and the bottom-most toenail all in the frame at once. So I borrowed a trick from Artie and rotated the camera down to get a second shot with the full feet and a bit of perch. Perhaps in the eyes of some this will relegate the image to a "digital creation", but it was the only way to get the shot (since I had left the shorter lens in the car).

D7000, 500f4, ISO 400, 1/2000s @ f/7.1 manual, tripod.

[Sanjeevprakash]

Great Shot,Bill. The white have come out well.I would have assumed this to be a snowy egret had you not specified.Interesting & TFS

[Alan Murphy]

Love the comp and details Bill.

[Joe Senzatimore]

Wonderful image , and a fine fix. well done.

[Randy Rimland]

Nice pose and well captured

[Melissa Groo]

Lovely pose, details, and great exposure, Bill. I like your comp too.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks everyone.

[HadiAnsari]

Wonderful image.I like your comp too

[Frank Schauf]

Beautiful portrait, great details and sharpness, Bill.

[Robert Holguin]

Very nice shot. Exposed very well, love the perch and pose.
Well done.

[Melvin Grey]

Lovely pose, plumage detail and composition, Bill. Well done with the manipulation, merely a technical way of achieving the whole image - you haven't falsified the picture 'story'. Definitely an immature LBH. As a visiting Brit to Florida many years ago I spent ages trying to work out what one of these were!!!!

[Marina Scarr]

Very well composed, Bill, and I am his hairdo!