A heron is not just a heron... đŸ€” - #SMaP Photo Contest Round 235

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(Edited)


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Naturally, there are many kinds of herons. This one, for example, seems to be a Great Blue Heron (Great White) - Ardea herodias occidentalis.


Playa del Chivo, 6 September. Havana. World Shorebirds Day.


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There she is, in the far background. Isn’t she magnificent in her size?

😃


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But this one... this is a reddish egret, white morph, in its juvenile stage.

When I took this photo, I was reminded of the well-known phrase by the master of photojournalism, Robert Capa:

“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.”

Well, I had my 45–200 mm lens mounted on the camera, and I got as close as I possibly could to this beauty.

Surely that photographer over there captured a great shot when the Great White took flight; she was quite close. I watched it all unfold from a distance.

But as I was saying, a heron is never just a heron in the world of birdwatchers. You have to look closely at the bill, its colouring, the plumage, the legs—and a few other little details—to determine what kind of heron you're actually looking at.


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A member of the Cuban birdwatching club explained to me that one must learn to observe carefully—even when it comes to migratory birds. Whether it’s a recent arrival, midway through its journey, preparing to depart, or a permanent resident... you have to take all that into account. Age matters too, because a juvenile is not the same as an adult. The characteristics can vary greatly. And in the end, he added that he wasn’t telling me this to intimidate me, but rather so I’d see it as a challenge. There are some guides you can consult to improve your accuracy when identifying the bird in question.


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đŸ€Ł While I was writing this post, another club member said to me: “Nani, that one’s got her ID registered at El Chivo. Her name’s Lucrecia.”

Well, lovely to meet you, Lucrecia, you posed for me like a seasoned model.

During this photo session, I noticed that, unlike the first time I visited that beach, the colours of Havana in the background were softer. The sun wasn’t strong, and the tide was higher. Where I once walked over sharp stones and green silt, there was now vegetation. I couldn’t tell you exactly what kind, but it looked like purslane.

Three fellow birdwatchers who were there called out to me: “Look above you, look above you...” I thought something was about to fall on me. I looked up, a little startled.


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And this is what I saw, an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). They told me, visibly excited, what bird it was, and shortly afterwards I saw it was marked as “uncommon” on Merlin.

With joy, I now put the final full stop to this post—grateful to have brought these majestic birds to the Feathered Friends Community and take part in this round of the competition. Thanks to the whole team, and warm greetings from Cuba. đŸ€—


Original content by @nanixxx. All rights reserved ©, 2025.
Every image I include in my posts is mine. When it’s not, I credit the source in a caption.

smap birds contest birding cuba
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42 comments
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Simply wow nani!
These are great and I do love herons, we have one I see from time to time, but only ever seen him fly once.
And you even knew her name, how great was that!

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Haha
 it must be a joke from the lads in the group, but I thought it was colourful enough to share here, the bit about her name. Though for me, she’s already Lucrecia. Herons carry some beautiful meanings across various cultures: good luck, renewal, rebirth (Egypt), divine messenger (Celts), purity (Native Americans). Spiritually and emotionally, they’re also seen as symbols of introspection, inner wisdom, deep connection with the self; and patience, balance, serenity in turbulent waters.
Thank you, @tengolotodo.

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Manually curated by the @qurator Team. Keep up the good work!

Like what we do? Consider voting for us as a Hive witness.

Curated by ewkaw

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Oh my god, fantastic photos! I must say that to id the birds is not so easy and it is challenging indeed. However, it makes the birdwatching so exciting.
Gorgeous birds and delightful post to read!
17559304511477972137756406642354.gif

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Thank you, @nelinoeva. What I love most about birding is how relaxing it is, and the joy that comes from sharing it with people who feel passionate about the activity.

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Great shot! His face is so...perilous and promising, lol.

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perilous and promising

😂

Thank you!

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Well, it's also a pleasure to meet you, Lucrecia. What an experienced model you've had.

You know what? I love herons. I used to paint them when I was studying, and they amazed me.

I'm fascinated by this photograph..

image.png

The more you get closer to birds, the more you'll learn, little by little. You'll see!

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Avecilla, I was feeling really unwell yesterday, and I’m still not doing great today. That’s why I’m late replying to the comments on this post. Yes, you’re right—practice makes perfect. But even if I never learn to identify them properly or become an expert, it doesn’t really matter. What I enjoy most is simply being there, watching them. And sharing the experience with people who truly love birding.

Thank you!

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Don't worry, rest and recover. The most important thing is to enjoy the moment and share it with people who are on the same wavelength. Take care!

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Thank you. I’m here quietly trying to catch up, until 11 a.m., when the connection disappears


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At this rate, I can easily be attracted to bird watching, but I don't have the patience to sit and wait outdoors, so I'm going to be a sofa bird watcher 😀

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😁 I’ll bring that observation to your sofa whenever you’ve got your phone or laptop nearby haha
 I’m feeling a bit under the weather at the moment, but I’ve still got plenty of birds here to share. A hug, my friend. Thank you!

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Hello, dear friend @nanixxx, good morning.

What a beautiful bird to celebrate on World Beachbird Day. Herons are very beautiful birds; they've always caught my attention. I don't have the chance to see them in the area where I live; to do so, I have to travel to the countryside.

This saying is so true:

"If your photos aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

Although I must say, it's not that easy to get up close to birds to take beautiful shots.

The shot where she's taking flight is impressive.

Thank you so much, dear friend, for sharing this wonderful experience and the beautiful photos you took of Lucrecia.

Have a happy start to the week.

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Although I must say, it's not that easy to get up close to birds to take beautiful shots.

Well, you’d need some powerful lenses for that haha
 No, you definitely can’t get too close physically—they’ll fly off. But I must say, this Lucrecia is quite used to humans. She stays calm and lets you get surprisingly close.

Thank you for your kind words. Wishing you a good week as well. I’m trying to find some balance in mine, I started the week feeling a bit unwell, which is why I’ve been slow to reply to the comments on this post. Warm regards, @jlufer.

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I'm so sorry to read that you weren't feeling well. I hope you're already recovered by the time you read this comment.

Get well soon.

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Muy buenas fotos nanixxx!

Me encanta la de Lucrecia tomando vuelo:

y esta:

Parece mi tía acabada de levantar de su cama después de un apagon de madrugada jajaj.

Me gustaron mucho,encuadre composiciĂłn y enfoque.
Felicidades!đŸ€—

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God, how I love birds, but now I understand that it's much more than just observing them 😍 You have to know how to identify what type of bird it is, its age, height, weight, size, whether it's married, widowed, divorced... oh no, not that haha 😂 Your photos are wonderful, and I love seeing these beautiful birds through the lens of your camera! 😍

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😄 Me hiciste soltar una carcajada! Pero sí, así es más o menos. Hay que intentar saber todo del ave.

Gracias @elbuhito de mi corazĂłn.

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Ay Amanda por tu madre, tĂș yo observadora de aves estĂĄ acabandoo. ÂĄÂĄQuĂ© fotos tan buenas!! ÂżLucrecia fue la que despegĂł el vuelo para ti? Parece una bailarina en pleno salto, con su tutĂș y todo...y mirĂĄndote!!! đŸ˜±đŸ˜†. Linda semana @?@!$@ 😁

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đŸ€Ł Ayer casi te llamo para que me recogieras desmayada en la calle... pero tratĂ© yo misma de salir del aprieto y mĂĄs o menos lo logrĂ©.

Gracias Amandita, linda semana para ti también. Te llamo luego.

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Good afternoon @nanixxx, spectacular collection of images ... and I'm glad you will remember Robert Capa ... that reddish garceta dancing in the air is beautiful. Thank you very much for sharing these images.

A very big hug. đŸ€—

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So many thoughts run through my mind in the moment of taking a photo
 well, I might write something later today. A hug. And thank you, as always, for your kind words and encouragement.

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If you write something, I'll read it tomorrow. Thank you! đŸ˜ŽđŸ€—

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The shot of the Heron mid flight really shows the sheer scale of those things. Absolutely massive. But so much beauty to them too. I see Storks a lot in Armenia, quite similar in their size, though they look much smaller when they're just walking around a nest or on the ground. You really don't expect such a massive creature once that wingspan is out!

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When it flew away I was surprised. It's true that it doesn't look so big when it's perched, maybe it's the position it adopts.

This world of birds is very beautiful and I like to learn something new every day. For example, they say that these days the American Green-winged Warblers are arriving.

Greetings @namiks!

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