Herons
The ever popular heron is one of the most striking water birds you will see in the
UK. As RSPB and other nature reserves tend to have lot of rivers and lakes in them,
when I have visited them, I will often see this bird, which makes for quite an attractive
photographic subject.
9. 15 February 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective
focal length 800mm), 1/160sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1000.
The location of this heron was at Seal Sands near Hartlepool, with the grey of the
bird matching the mudflats behind.
10. 11 May 2025, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective
focal length 800mm), 1/250sec @ f/5.6, ISO 200.
Photograph taken in the RSPB reserve at Salthome near Hartlepool, where herons are
a common sight with the reserve containing multiple wetland areas.
1. 21 March 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective
focal length 800mm), 1/1250sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.
2. 21 March 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective
focal length 800mm), 1/1250sec @ f/5.6, ISO 320.
3. 21 March 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8, 1/1250sec @ f/2.8, ISO
100.
4. 23 August 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Telyt-R 400mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R (effective
focal length 800mm), 1/320sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400.
A typical pose for a heron.
5. 30 June 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/500sec @ f/3.4,
ISO 64.
On the way back to England from a holiday in The Netherlands, I stopped off at Brielle,
a town near Europoort, and came across this quite tame heron, which enabled me to
get some photographs; I must have been around ten meters away.
6. 30 June 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8, 1/800sec @ f/2.8,
ISO 64.
7. 30 June 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R
(effective focal length 200mm) 1/250sec @ f/8, ISO 400.
8. 30 June 2026, Leica SL(601), Apo-Macro-Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 + 2x Apo-Extender-R
(effective focal length 200mm) 1/250sec @ f/6.8, ISO 400.
Getting in really close now!