I photographed this Great Blue Heron Eating A Fish Close-up at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.
The Great Blue Heron is a majestic bird, known for its long legs and neck that make it appear almost serpentine. Standing at a height of up to 4 feet, this beautiful bird is a common sight along the coasts and marshes of North America. But what sets the Great Blue Heron apart from other birds is its unique hunting technique and its preferred prey: fish.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Eating A Fish Close-up
The Great Blue Heron – a majestic bird known for its grace and hunting prowess – captivates with its unique hunting technique. Standing still in shallow waters, this patient predator keeps a watchful eye on its surroundings, waiting for its next meal to swim by. And when it does, the Great Blue Heron strikes with lightning-fast precision, snagging its prey in its beak with unrivaled efficiency.
This remarkable hunter has a diet consisting mainly of fish, but it also feeds on a diverse range of other creatures such as small mammals, reptiles, and crustaceans. Its specialized beak, designed specifically for its preferred prey, is a marvel of evolution. With a sharp point for impaling and a long, slender shape for plucking, the Great Blue Heron’s beak is the perfect tool for capturing its food in mere seconds.
I was lucky enough to photograph this magnificent bird while sitting in my pickup, with my camera and lens perched on a bean bag draped over the open window.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: RF 800mm F11 IS STM
Technical:
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
- Date and Time Taken: January 3, 2023 (11:47 A. M.)
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f11 (Fixed)
- Shutter speed: 1/2500
- ISO: 2500 (Auto)
- Exposure Compensation: -2 EV
- Focal Length: 800 mm (Fixed)