Birding in Taiwan: The Black-Crowned Night Heron

By Carrie on June 27, 2009

Photo by Carrie Marshall

These crimson-eyed beauties are a common sight in low-lying areas of Taiwan. I’ve seen Black-Crowned Night Herons all over the city, but never one this close. Apparently these gorgeous herons (scientific name Nycticorax nycticorax) are not only sneaky, but incredibly patient. This one waited on a rock for lunch to swim by for almost 20 minutes. Lunch never arrived so it took off in search of a better vantage point. It finally settled down a short distance away on the water marker in the middle of the fish pond.

Share and Enjoy:

Posted in Photography, Taipei, Taiwan | Tagged Animals, Canon 400D, Parks, Photography, Taipei, Taiwan

Carrie

Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Carrie has kept a home base with her husband in Asia since 2003. A nomad at heart, Carrie's deep love for travel, photography, and culture has lead her on frequent travels over the past seven years. Carrie works for a publishing company in Taipei, but she also finds work as a freelance writer, editor, and photographer. Visit www.carriekellenberger.com for more information.

9 responses to “Birding in Taiwan: The Black-Crowned Night Heron”

Darren M
June 27, 2009 at 4:48 pm | Permalink | Reply

I love the BCNH too. They seem such a stocky, strong bird. Strangely, I was really close to one last weekend, haven’t posted the photos anywhere. You are right, their patience is amazing. I saw quite some time ago a 20 second exposure of one poised ready to strike. It was so cool, as the body and the head were still really sharp, the outside feathers were totally blurred and the water was very silky. The tripod of the bird world.
Anil
June 27, 2009 at 10:50 pm | Permalink | Reply

I can’t tell who looks more intimidating in that last photo, the fish or the bird.
Lilliy
June 28, 2009 at 6:11 am | Permalink | Reply

Yes I agree with Anil.. it almost looks like the fish is going to jump the bird.. great photos.. you can almost see it in the eyes of the bird.. sitting.. waiting..
kim
July 3, 2009 at 1:50 pm | Permalink | Reply

Gorgeous bird, gorgeous pictures! I love that shade of blue.
1. Carrie
  July 10, 2009 at 3:22 pm | Permalink | Reply
  
  Thanks Kim. Although I admit, it scared me to death when it landed right beside me.
jen Laceda
July 7, 2009 at 1:52 am | Permalink | Reply

Aren’t birds hard to capture (in a photo, i mean)? But you’ve captured the black-crowned heron well!
1. Carrie
  July 11, 2009 at 3:26 pm | Permalink | Reply
  
  Hi Jen,
  Yeah, they can be hard to capture. This one was sitting pretty close to me. That’s why it turned out so well. Some of the bird photographers on Flickr blow me away. They seem to have a lot more patience than I do.
krzysztof
July 15, 2009 at 2:50 pm | Permalink | Reply

That’s impressive I’m interested in the distance between you and this bird. Did you have to come very closely? And one more thing – I saw on myseveralworlds.com the discussion about your new lens. I don’t remember where it was. Maybe you remember or can you remind me what kind of lens do you use currently?
1. Carrie
  July 28, 2009 at 10:03 am | Permalink | Reply
  
  Hi K,
  It was less than 2 feet away. I was sitting on a park bench and it landed right beside me.