About 35 or 40 feet, but it’s not hard to get closer to them. This one was on the seawall at the county boat ramp. If you pay attention to the tides and the solar/lunar tables you can get a rough idea where the marsh birds will be. After heavy rains a lot of them will move inland to hunt the ponds and ditches, and you can usually find all the models you need out here. Now, the action is along the coast.
Your pics always make me smile, thank you. Wish I could get a pic like that, I bought an expensive camera but I think the problem is mine (I do like to blame the camera though).