5/1/2012 8:19:44 PM

Wonderful capture. Love these birds. Congratulations.

5/1/2012 8:29:38 PM

Thank you Louise and Barbara.

5/2/2012 5:58:16 AM

What an amazing Finalist Dick, big congrats!

jo ann c.

5/2/2012 7:13:23 AM

Thank you Jo Ann, a very rare and unusual gesture I've never seen before.

5/2/2012 7:21:14 AM

Congratulations, Dick!

5/2/2012 1:35:52 PM

Congratulations on your beautiful finalist!

5/2/2012 5:29:24 PM

Marvelous bird capture, Dick! I've never seen herons do this before and I have spent all week in Florida at rookeries! Many congratulations on a really fine Finalist!

5/2/2012 8:07:27 PM

Thanks to all, Patrick, Carol and Rona, thanks for taking the time to drop me a note. Gee Rona you should have let me know you were in our fair state I would have taken you to my private heronry. But I must admit, in all the time I spend with the birds, and it is appreciable, I have never seen this gesture before. There were also a few other gestures I saw and captured early on in the new couples mating that took me by surprise. We watched a pair of potential mates for seven days of cat and mouse before she accepted him and then the gesture found on my wildlife gallery entitled "The Mating Ritual" occurred. Never had I seen that.

Thanks again to all.

5/2/2012 8:35:52 PM

It's always great to capture behavior

5/3/2012 6:09:29 AM

Incredible image Dick, congrats!

5/3/2012 1:36:47 PM

Well here we are, through thick and thin. It is a joy to be able to be supportive and to congratulate each other for another month of magnificent photographs during May, 2012. I send all of you my very best, Merna Nobile
Hi Dick: I also wanted to congratulate you on your wonderful publication. They certainly commissioned the best person for the task. Beautiful work! Merna

5/5/2012 1:59:01 PM

Brilliant capture, Dick.
Congratulations on its making Finalist. (I'm truly surprised it didn't go higher.)

5/6/2012 3:51:19 AM

Love this so much!! Congrats on your recognition!! =)

5/11/2012 5:07:54 PM

Thanks so much to all, Donna, Merna, Mary and Lori. Nice of you to take the time to send your best wishes.

5/11/2012 7:59:51 PM