One of the hardest birds to photograph on the Avon River is the white-faced heron. On the face of it that sounds absurd seeing as they are quite a large bird that can be found in significant numbers. Size isn’t really a factor. Some of the small ‘bush’ birds such as the red capped robin or the rufous whistler are quite easy to photograph as the males let you get as close as a couple of metres and will sit and look at you. The white-faced heron on the other hand is incredibly skittish and will take off at the slightest sound or movement. For that reason I get a great feeling of satisfaction in being able to get close enough to photograph them. The other evening I tried a new spot that allowed me to make a good approach with out been seen and this gave me the opportunity to photograph an adult and a juvenile.

 

 

 

As the light was going I started to he’d back to the car when I noticed three yellow-billed spoonbills roosting in a dead sheaoak tree. On the branch above was another bird which at first glances I didn’t recognise. As I got closer I saw that it was a juvenile white-faced heron roosting with its leg folded up. I’ve never seen one do that before.