I photographed this Double-crested Cormorant swallowing a shad at Robert S. Kerr Reservoir (Kerr Dam) near Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
These birds are difficult to photograph swallowing fish. As soon as they pop up with the fish after diving they gulp it down fast. They do this because the Gulls are flying above them ready to still it from them.
How I Got The Shot – Double-crested Cormorant Swallowing Shad
I was close to the Dam on the southeast side sitting near the edge of the water with my tripod and camera. I was using a Canon EOS-1D Mark III camera with a Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens.
Camera Settings
- AV Mode
- Back-button focus
- Aperture f6.3
- ISO 640
- Shutter speed – 1/2500 sec.
- Auto White Balance
- Single Point, Continuous Auto Focus
- Multi Metering
- Focal Length – 500 mm
Here is another Double-crested Cormorant I photographed. This one was leaving the water: Double-crested Cormorant Takeoff