Two Tourists

Posted by Barbara (Florida, United States) on 21 July 2009 in People & Portrait.

It's Silly Tuesday!
This is how those that live here can spot a tourist.
And I would do the same thing if I didn't live here.
Since I have my camera with me all of the time I am often approached as if I am a visitor or tourist.

This Great Blue Heron flew inches in front of these two a few feet away. When he landed they grabbed their camera phones and ran for the photo op.
Location: Pier 60, Clearwater Beach, Florida

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Comments (13)

Eleftheria from Athens, Greece

Lovely birds! I think you have many of them there! Right?

21 Jul 2009 6:10am

@Eleftheria: Yes we have many, Eleftheria. They are very common here and usually by lakes, ponds and this one in the photo is on the Gulf of Mexico at Clearwater Beach. He is very use to people and getting small fish the fishermen catch and throw to him. Thanks you for your comment.

Cricket-Tammy from Somewhere in the, United States

Oh me....this is great. I often wonder if people who grab images actually go home and pull them up to see them in larger detail. I use my cell-phone many times to capture images when I don't have my phone. I think they give a different take. I like em'. This is a great find Barbara.

21 Jul 2009 10:26am

Claudia from Illinois, United States

This is just perfect, Barb!! I'm so shocked that the Heron is standing that close to them...but then,maybe he is used to being fed by tourists and his fear of humans is no more. What is so great aside from the perfect shot of this gorgeous, regal bird is how you caught him in both view finders of the camera phones. Bravo!!

21 Jul 2009 11:14am

@Claudia: Yes, the fishermen on the pier often throw him small fish and of course a nibble of something from a tourist or local walking the pier. I avoid feeding wildlife, against the law anyhow, it makes them dependent on people, in the long run it is a bad situation. Thanks, Claudia for your comment.

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

LOL oh he's a poser lol how fantastic, a phone photo and a camera photo, let me guess which will be better lol

21 Jul 2009 11:15am

Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States

What a great sighting, Barb, and I agree with Claudia on catching both cell-phone images and also on the 'fear of humans' side of it. I think that it's usually when kids decide to run toward them or move very quickly around them, that they are skittish. Otherwise they seem very watchful, but calm.

21 Jul 2009 11:36am

Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States

I like shots like this one Barbara, showing life as it is in our part of the world.

21 Jul 2009 2:29pm

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

LOL what a great silly shot...that was me last week taking pictures of an Egret ; )

21 Jul 2009 4:17pm

DenisSm from Prague, Czech Republic

:-)) great eye and timing Barb

21 Jul 2009 4:44pm

LauraS from United States

How wonderful. Great shot of silly tourists. I'd be right there with them.

21 Jul 2009 5:01pm

john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States

When we lived in Sequim, I saw herons all of the time, but I would still join them in grabbing a camera. The Great Blue is my totem.

21 Jul 2009 9:06pm

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

Such a ham he knew exactly what he was doing, even showing his best side. :D

22 Jul 2009 12:47am

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Wow that Heron really lets people get close. They are not nearly as brave here. I have never been able to get anywhere near them. Great shot.

22 Jul 2009 2:15pm

Food from Las Cruces, NM, United States

This is a great shot, it begs the question, what happened next? Did the bird fly or peck that guy?

30 Jul 2009 3:07am

@Food: Thank you, Food. No pecking of the tourists. Actually the heron was off to the right and as these two were leaning on the rail the heron flew right to them, they backed off for him to land and they took the shots, he then walked down the railing looking for the next tourist and possible handout.
Soon he flew off further as he spotted a fisherman reeling in a small catch. These herons are so use to the tourists little stirs them. I appreciate your comment.

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