Fledgling concentrates on dinner...

[David Roach]

EOS R RF 70-200 @200 f4 1/2700 ISO 200 HH, manual exp

It's been raining every evening for a week, typical summer pattern. Tonight the late evening sun was clear with overall clear skies. So, took rig with new RF glass on my bike ride. Just a mile in spotted a fledgling night heron (yellow-crowned) at the waters edge. Even though they can keep this pattern within a year of being fledged, I knew as I put the bike down this was a recent fledgling from the goofy chick behavior. As I approached slow and low, the lack of fear confirmed new fledgling. Unfortunately, I had a great view reasonably close but the late light under the banyan trees was dappled. Suddenly, the hackles went up as I mashed the shutter. Something flew by. As I took the camera down, the sibling was standing not 3 meters from me. Another fearless subject and this time in clear late afternoon light. The banks of this borrow pit were steep going down to the water. I got slightly below the chicks position with feet just dangling in water. Every body of fresh water on the western edge of SE Florida near the everglades has gators. Took a few frames and moved back up the bank. That is a banyan surface root meandering behind. As I was close, wanted F8 but was afraid the steep bank and that root would be drawn in more.

[arash_hazeghi]

nice find, like the colors and soft light, wish for a better HA and a less distracting BG.

TFS

[kevin Hice]

Love the story David. Nice image first thing that grabbed me was the dark background. Unfortunate and we can't do much about presentation sometimes. I like the root would have never known. Intense stare is nice. TFS

[Brian Sump]

David, like the frame overall. The bird pops in the setting.

I'm okay with bkg personally but agree with Ari on the head angle. Interesting how that highlight appears right at the tip of the beak.

TFS

[gail bisson]

Nice behavior shot.
The dark band (?log)is distracting and a lower position could have eliminated that and put the heron solidly in the green BG. Those flowers on the left would have been gorgeous in the BG.
I would clone out the bright green circle at the tip of beak.
Gail

[dankearl]

Nice environment photo...

[John Mack]

I like the setting and the framing here. Nice and sharp. With good detail as well.