Leapers (Detail) - a photo on Flickriver

Leapers (Detail)

            This adult Great Blue Heron had just flown in to a spot near where I was shooting Least Bitterns and proceeded to take several large gulps of water while moving toward an area where gulf menhaden were schooling in a large mass. The bird was certainly able to see the baitfish, but struck here halfheartedly as if undecided whether to drink or feed. I can't tell for sure if a menhaden got taken in with the swallow of water but given the density of the fish, it would have been hard to miss. Subsequently, the bird went into full feeding mode and no doubt got its fill.

NB: Armand and Horsepen Bayou are part of a coastal estuary that receives tidal saltwater inflow from Galveston Bay and fresh water runoff from inland watersheds. The brackish water in this section of Horsepen Bayou is saltier than water further upstream and most of the wading birds seem to prefer that fresher upstream water for drinking. I can't recall seeing a large heron drink so deeply in this section before.

Taken in: United States / Texas / University Park (show map)

Taken on: July 16, 2022

Tags:

Great Blue Heron

GBH

feeding

baitfish

gulf menhaden

water

splash

reflection

explosion

nature

wildlife

Horsepen Bayou

Pasadena

Texas

kayak

gseloff « less

Sets appears in: • Armand Bayou #21

Camera: Sony ILCE-9, f/7.1, 1/3200 sec, 600mm, ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Sony ILCE-9
Lens:	FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	1/3200 sec
Focal Length:	600mm
ISO:	1600
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.14 (Windows)
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