The Bird Collection

Black-crowned night-heron, Stony Bottom

Stand Fast

I’ve returned to this spot many times over the years. It’s a quiet bend in the river, always worth the visit. The water here runs clear, revealing soft hues across a stony bottom—muted greens, amber flecks, and pale earth tones shifting beneath the current.

In this image, a Black-crowned Night Heron stands motionless in the flow, waiting patiently for a passing catch. Its posture is poised, almost sculptural. Twin white head plumes arc delicately against the slate-grey feathers of its upper back. The plumage layers in elegant contrast: deep charcoal, misty grey, and clean white. Subtle yellow highlights above and below the bill echo in the bird’s legs, grounding the composition in balance and warmth.

As with many of my heron images, a long exposure brings the river’s motion to life. Here, that soft blur surrounds the stillness—emphasizing both the power of water and the quiet resilience of a bird standing fast within it.