It was back to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma on July 7, 2024. No surprise since that is my favorite place to go to photograph wildlife. Mia was with me again, and it’s always great to have another wildlife photographer with you to help spot the wildlife at this refuge. July can be challenging because the crops and other plants, like Johnson Grass, are over head high. Plus, it’s been dry and extremely hot. We need rain, and I saw that we should get some good rain this week. Fingers crossed!
Early Morning Sightings
At sunrise, we began the auto tour road. After making the first turn, we saw a Bald Eagle in a dead tree that most frequent visitors to the refuge call the Eagle Tree. It’s a popular spot for eagles because it overlooks the Kerr Reservoir. However, I noticed the main branch the eagles prefer to perch on is now missing, likely broken off by high winds. This makes it a bit more challenging to photograph them. Over the years, I’ve taken many photos of eagles in this tree, the last one being a young Bald Eagle eating a catfish.
Just as I was preparing to park and snap a couple of photos of the Bald Eagle, Mia spotted a Green Heron on her side of the truck, near a puddle of water in a spot known as Tuff Pond. Mia managed to get a few photos and a video. I got some shots too, but it was tricky shooting across the inside of my cab. After Mia finished, I turned the truck around to get a better angle and took a few more photos of the heron before turning back to capture the Bald Eagle still perched in the large dead tree.
Unexpected Encounters
Continuing on the auto tour road toward the 4-way intersection, I spotted a couple of deer crossing the road in my rearview mirror. They must have been well hidden when we drove by because both Mia and I missed them initially, so no photos this time. Mia also spotted a yellow-billed cuckoo in a tree ahead of us, but it quickly disappeared into the branches before we could get a photo.
At the 4-way intersection, I turned right and spotted another Green Heron perched on a branch on my side of the road in an area known as Miner’s Cove. I managed to park and take a few photos from inside my truck despite the challenging light. Mia exited the truck and captured a shot as well.
A few yards ahead, we noticed a White Egret feeding in Miner’s Cove. We recognized it from our last visit on the Fourth of July because of a sore spot on its neck, visible in my close-up photo of the bird.
An Unusual Find
We then headed to the Phillip Parks Memorial Fishing Pier. On the way, Mia spotted an owl perched on a log, but I couldn’t stop because of an oncoming vehicle. After the dust and gravel settled, the owl had flown away.
At the fishing pier, we didn’t see much, which was unusual for this spot. However, I did find something strange on one of the lotus leaves – a gold-colored drop of water with something inside it. If you have any idea what this could be, please share it in the comment section below.
Final Stops and Surprises
Leaving the fishing pier, we continued on the auto tour road until we reached the Sally Jones Causeway, where we photographed a Wood Duck. We then drove toward the Moody Boat Ramp south of the 4-way intersection. Along this road, we photographed a skink on a log, and Mia spotted young black vultures perched on a limb over the road. We got some close-up photos of one of the birds.
After photographing the young vulture, we got back onto the auto tour road. Mia spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker on my side of the road, and I managed to get a few photos. I also photographed an Eastern Kingbird before we decided to call it a day around 10 a.m. The sunlight was getting harsh for photos, and the temperature was already climbing into the 80s.
Wrapping Up
Despite the heat and challenging conditions, it was another great wildlife photo adventure at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. If you have any insights about the mysterious gold drop on the lotus leaf, let me know in the comments. Until next time, happy wildlife watching!
We’ve enjoyed photographing wildlife and hiking at Sequoyah, and your photos remind us of our times there.