Kort Duce
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Kort Duce
@kortduce.bsky.social
3.6K followers 1.1K following 7K posts
I have been a professional photographer and artist for over 25 years. I have worked at newspapers, magazines and now freelance. I love art. www.kortduce.com
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Kort Duce @kortduce.bsky.social · Feb 4
My picture of a Great Blue Heron catching a fish at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado, made the Audubon Society’s 2024 Photo Awards top 100 pictures.

www.audubon.org/magazine/202...
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A juvenile bald eagle perches above the ponds at Golden Ponds Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #BirdsofPrey #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #nature #wildlife #baldeagle
#baldeagles #eagle #eagles
A juvenile bald eagle perches above the ponds at Golden Ponds Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. In this color vertical photograph the bald eagle fills most of the frame. The eagle is facing the camera and is looking to its left (the viewer sees the eagle’s right side of its head. A small branch crosses into the frame that the eagle perches on. Below it is another curved branch that has fishing line and a hook stuck to it. The background is all blue sky. Juvenile bald eagles have a dark brown body with mottled brown and white wings, and their heads and tails are also mostly dark. They do not attain the distinctive white head and tail of adults until they are about five years old. Yet, this one’s head is starting to appear more white and its tail feathers are white. Photo by Kort Duce
January 3, 2026 at 7:56 PM
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A male house sparrow perches on dead branches at Jim Hamm Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #sparrows #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #housesparrow #housesparrows
A male house sparrow perches on dead branches at Jim Hamm Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. In color horizontal photograph a dead tree branch crosses the frame with multiple other branches veering off the top and bottom. At the right half there is a house sparrow perching on a branch. Two-thirds of the background is the blue color of the pond. The upper one-third is the dead and brown cattails on the opposite side of the pond. The male house sparrow has a distinctive appearance with a gray crown, white cheeks, a black bib, and a chestnut neck. Its back is chestnut brown with black streaks, and it has pale gray underparts, making it easily recognizable among other birds. The bird is looking to its right (our left) in the picture. Photo by Kort Duce
January 2, 2026 at 3:28 AM
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A great blue heron portrait at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #b&w #ClassicMono #Monochrome #BW #Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #wetland #wetlands #heron #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #herons
A great blue heron portrait at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. This vertical photograph is in black and white. The heron is perching on one leg on an arched log above the pond. It is a fairly tight portrait. Its head is tucked down close to its body. Its beak has feathers stuck to it because it was preening itself. It is looking to its right (our left). The background is blurry with water in the lower half and the rest is the opposite shoreline with vegetation. Photo by Kort Duce
January 1, 2026 at 9:19 PM
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A great blue heron fishes from a branch sticking out of the pond at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #b&w #ClassicMono #Monochrome #BW #Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #greatblueheron
A great blue heron fishes from a tree branch sticking out of the pond at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. This is a horizontal black and white photograph. Most of the frame is water reflecting white clouds and blue sky. In the foreground is prairie grasses on the bank of the pond. In the upper left quarter of the picture is the heron standing on a branch coming out of the water. It is facing camera and looking to its right (our left) as it scans the water for fish. The branch and heron are reflected in the rippled water. The 5-inch thick branch has several broken off limbs as it angles out of the water about seven feet. A whole bunch of fishing line is tangled on the branch and reflected in the rippled water. Photo by Kort Duce
January 1, 2026 at 9:11 PM
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A great blue heron catches a large fish at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #b&w #ClassicMono #Monochrome #BW #Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #wetland #wetlands #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A great blue heron catches a large fish at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. In this vertical black and white photograph the heron is wading in water and walking backwards with a 12 to 15-inch fish in its beak. Water is dripping from the fish. The pond water is rippling outward in a circular pattern after catching the fish seconds before. The frame is mostly the heron with its tail cropped out of the photograph. The background shows a blurred rocky bank to the pond. Photo by Kort Duce
January 1, 2026 at 4:44 PM
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A great blue heron portrait at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #b&w #ClassicMono #Monochrome #BW
#Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #wetland #wetlands #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A great blue heron portrait at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. This is a tight headshot of the heron. It is a horizontal black and white image. The heron turned its back into the 24 MPH wind gusts and its head feathers are thus sticking up and curling in the wind. The sun is coming in from the left which is casting a shadow of its eyeball. The background is completely blurred vegetation. Photo by Kort Duce
January 1, 2026 at 4:34 PM
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A great blue heron portrait at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #b&w #ClassicMono #Monochrome #BW #Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #wetland #wetlands #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A great blue heron portrait at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. In this vertical black and white photograph the heron is perching on the tip of a slanted log. The heron fills the photograph from head to claws. Its neck is in the shape of an “S” and its head feathers are flying in the light breeze. Its neck plumage is sticking out gracefully. It is on alert and knows the photographer is close, but also knows it is at a safe distance. The foreground has blurred cattails and the background is dead vegetation and some darkness. Photo by Kort Duce
January 1, 2026 at 3:03 PM
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Happy New Year! My last post of 2025!

An immature great horned owl perches on a fence post right before dusk in Longmont, Colorado.

#bird #birds #owl #owls #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #nature #portrait
An immature great horned owl perches on a fence post right before dusk in Longmont, Colorado. In this vertical color photograph the owl fills most of the frame and is standing on an ornate fence post painted brown. The talons are visible. The great horned owl has mottled gray-brown plumage with a distinctive white patch on its throat and horizontal bars on its belly. The chest feathers are typically rust-colored with black markings, contributing to its overall camouflage. The owl is looking straight at the viewer. The background is bright yellow from the sun lighting up the leaves on the trees, which really adds depth and a refreshing look to this portrait of great horned owl. Photo by Kort Duce
January 1, 2026 at 4:47 AM
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A great blue heron fishes during dusk at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #reflections
#ClassicMono #EastCoastKin #Monochrome #BW
#BlackandWhite #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #nature #wetland #wetlands #heron #herons
A great blue heron fishes during dusk at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. This is a black and white horizontal photograph looking down at an arched log sticking out of the water and going back in to the water. There is a heron standing under the arch (on an underwater branch) fishing with its neck in an “S” shape and its head looking down. The arch and heron are reflected perfectly in the water. The arch almost looks like the outline of a fish. Also in the water is clouds reflecting and a tree from the shore is reflected in the upper right. It is very atmospheric. The entire picture is dark with tons of contrast from the clouds reflecting lots of light in the water. Photo by Kort Duce
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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A great blue heron is reflected along with the root system of a dead tree that fell over ions ago at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #reflections #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #wetland #wetlands #heron #herons
A great blue heron is reflected along with the root system of a dead tree that fell over ions ago at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. In this vertical color photograph the tree roots and heron are reflected in the water. The water is blue from the sky above. The root system is massive and fills the upper half of the image. It looks just like a root system, but it is exposed to the air and all the soil has eroded away. In the lower center of the photo is the great blue heron with its mouth open (silent screech). Photo by Kort Duce
December 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
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After catching a fish a great blue heron climbs a log to fish at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #Reflections #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #nature #wetland #wetlands #greatblueheron #greatblueherons
After catching a fish a great blue heron climbs a log to fish at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. This horizontal color photograph during sunset shows the pond and the blue sky with hints of pink cotton candy clouds reflected in the water. There is a 5-inch tree branch jetting out of the water on the right side of the frame and hovers over the water for about seven feet. A whole bunch of tangled fishing line hangs from the branch. The heron’s wings are starting to unfurl as it places one claw on the branch and is attempting to climb up onto the branch to fish. It does successfully accomplish to get on the branch. The heron and branch are both reflected in the water. Photo by Kort Duce
December 31, 2025 at 2:35 PM
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A cooper's hawk perching in a dead tree at Roger's Grove Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #branchingout #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #nature #wildlife #hawk #hawks
A vertical color photograph on an overcast day. A cooper's hawk perching in a dead tree at Roger's Grove Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. The hawk fills most of the frame and is perching on both legs. The branch it is perching on arches across the frame. Its head is turned to its right and you see its left side profile. It has deep golden eyes. Its chest feathers are rusty brown and white splotches. It claws are are bright golden. Background is gray clouds and blurry trees with a hint of some leaves turning yellow in the fall. Photo by Kort Duce
December 30, 2025 at 2:37 PM
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A blackbird perches on an Indian tipi at the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #branchingout
#ClassicMono #Monochrome #BW
#BlackandWhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #blackbird #blackbirds
Horizontal black and white photograph. A blackbird perches on an Indian tipi at the High Plains Environmental Center in Loveland, Colorado. The upper part of the tipi’s branches stick out all over the place and fill the frame. The background is low clouds. On one of the far right branches of the tipi is a blackbird looking over its shoulder. A very moody picture. Photo by Kort Duce
December 30, 2025 at 2:11 PM
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A male mallard feeds with its butt in the air in St. Vrain Creek at Roger’s Grove Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #BirdButts #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #mallard #mallards
A vertical color photograph of a male mallard feeding with its butt in the air in St. Vrain Creek at Roger’s Grove Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. The mallard is surrounded by water, which is a gold color reflecting the late afternoon sun. The mallard’s behind fills most of the upper frame with the bottom half reflecting in the water. You can see his orange legs paddling in the water to keep its head under water to feed. Photo by Kort Duce
December 29, 2025 at 9:38 PM
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A great blue heron readies for flight at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #BirdButts #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #nature #wetlano #wetlands #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A horizontal color photograph of a great blue heron getting ready for flight at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. The background and foreground are dead cattails in earth colors from light beige to tan and brown colors. The heron is on the tip of a log getting ready to fly with its wings lifted and ready to flap. The heron fills most of the frame with its head on the left, its body in the middle crouched down and its legs on the right bent and ready to spring up. Photo by Kort Duce
December 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
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A great blue heron portrait at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#StunDay #ClassicMono #Monochrome
#BW #Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #wetland #wetlands #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A vertical black and white photograph of a great blue heron standing on a tree root system from a fallen tree at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. The heron is filling the frame from top to bottom. Both legs are firmly planted on the slanted root. Its neck is “S” shaped and twisted around. Its feathers and plumage are sticking out all over (like static electricity and human hair). The heron is staring the viewer down intensely as its head feathers are blowing on the air. The background is rippled water on the pond from gusts of wind. Photo by Kort Duce
December 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
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A great blue heron fishes from a tree branch sticking out of the pond at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#BirdOfTheDay #serenity #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A great blue heron fishes from a tree branch sticking out of the pond at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. This is a horizontal color photograph. Most of the frame is water reflecting white clouds and blue sky. In the foreground is prairie grasses on the bank of the pond. In the upper left quarter of the picture is the heron standing on a branch coming out of the water. The heron is lifting one leg slightly to get a better position. The heron is bent over with its head down fishing. The branch and heron are reflected in the rippled water. The 5-inch thick branch has several broken off limbs as it angles out of the water about seven feet. A whole bunch of fishing line is tangled and caught up on the branch and dangling in the water. Photo by Kort Duce
December 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
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Cattails at the end of season and a great blue heron fishing at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#ClassicMono #EastCoastKin #Monochrome #BW #BlackandWhite #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #nature #wetland #wetlands #heron #herons
A vertical black and white photograph of a great blue heron fishing in the pond at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. In the upper right corner is an out of focus heron standing in water with its reflection mirroring itself in the water. Its neck is stretched out and looking over the water as it fishes. The foreground is dead cattails left over from the summer. These cattails are in focus and adds the contrast between the foreground and the pond water with its gray water reflecting the cloudy sky overhead. The heron is a silhouette adding more contrast and depth. Photo by Kort Duce
December 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
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I photographed this a little over a year ago. This double-crested cormorant, which is missing its left wing, managed to jump onto this log to perch. The poor thing was left behind during the cormorants migration at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#bird #birds #birdphotography
Horizontal color photograph of a double-crested cormorant perching on an arched log jetting out of the water at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. It is a silhouette at sunset with striking pink clouds reflected in the rippled water with a splash of blue sky. Trees reflected in upper portion of the frame. The cormorant is missing its left wing and unfortunately died last winter. Photo by Kort Duce
December 27, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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A great blue heron perches on an exposed log before sunset at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #nature #wetland #wetlands #greatblueheron #heron #greatblueherons #herons
A vertical color photograph of a great blue heron perching on a log sticking out of the pond before sunset at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. The heron is in the upper left of the frame and its reflection in the water is muddled by the rippling water. The log is jetting out at an angle. There is fishing line tangled up on the log and dangling in the water. The heron’s neck is stretched out and curled as it is looking down. The background is all blue water reflecting the sky. The foreground is old cattails and reeds framing the heron and log. Photo by Kort Duce
December 27, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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A great blue heron fishes in St. Vrain Creek in Longmont, Colorado.

#FlyDay #ClassicMono #Monochrome
#BW #Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos #wetland #wetlands #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A black and white horizontal photograph of a great blue heron fishing in St. Vrain Creek near Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. In the lower quarter of the picture the heron is crouched low and forward in the creek water. It almost looks like it is floating. The heron is staring intensely. In the background from the upper left to the lower right is ice on the edge of the creek bank. Photo by Kort Duce
December 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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A great blue heron catches a huge rainbow trout at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado.

#FlyDay #EastCoastKin #bird #birds #birdphotography #photography #photograph #greatblueheron #greatblueherons #heron #herons
A great blue heron catches a rainbow trout at Izaak Walton Nature Area in Longmont, Colorado. The fish is fighting to get away and its tail is curled as it flips around. The photograph was taken 23 minutes after sunset. The picture has a purple tint due to the clouds holding on to the last rays of fading sun and reflecting in the water and ice. The rainbow trout is between 18 to 24 inches long. The heron is standing in a foot or two of water. The background is ice from the pond freezing over. Photo by Kort Duce
December 26, 2025 at 7:15 PM
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"What you looking at, Willis?

A juvenile great horned owl waits for its mother to hunt on an old rustic fence at dusk in Longmont, Colorado.

#ClassicMono #Monochrome
#BW #Blackandwhite #EastCoastKin
#bird #birds #owl #owls #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos
A black and white horizontal photograph of a juvenile great horned owl waiting for its mother to hunt on an old rustic fence at dusk in Longmont, Colorado. The fence rails lead your eye from lower left of frame to upper right of frame with posts sticking up. The foreground and background is prairie grass. The owl is slightly puffed up and looking at the photographer as if asking, "What you looking at, Willis? Photo by Kort Duce
December 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
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Merry Christmas!

#MerryChristmas
An old Christmas tree ornament hanging by white and green string that spells out “Merry Christmas” in red glitter with the bokeh of Christmas tree lights. The bokeh balls are green, red, blue, orange. In between the bokeh balls is darkness. One larger bokeh ball is behind the lettering and is gold colored. Photo by Kort Duce
December 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
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A great horned owl is distracted by smaller birds flying overhead while perching on a fence rail right before dusk in Longmont, Colorado.

#bird #birds #birdphotography #owl #owls #photography #photograph #photographs #photo #photos
A great horned owl is distracted by smaller birds flying overhead while perching on a fence rail right before dusk in Longmont, Colorado. This is a vertical photograph with the owl filling most of the frame. The owl is looking straight up in the air with its bright yellow eyes and its wings out. The background is a few small tree branches and the bark and trunk of a cottonwood tree. Photo by Kort Duce
December 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM