I parked on the Sally Jones West Causeway at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma to photograph this Great Blue Heron. It was cool see it catch the Gar. It took three tries to swallow it. It had the Gar in position the first two times but then it would change its mind. I think the reason it took three tries is that the Gar was getting dry to swallow plus the Gar was struggling. The Great Blue Heron would lower it to the water to wet it and I think this helps with swallowing the Gar.
I think it’s amazing that this Heron could swallow a Gar. Gars are predators with long, sharp teeth. They also have heavily armored scales.
How I Got The Shot – Great Blue Heron Eating Gar
I had my camera and lens resting on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup.
• Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge – Oklahoma
• Date Taken: May 18, 2020
• Aperture: f5.6
• Shutter speed: 1/500 sec.
• ISO: 2000
• Exposure Bias: -.03 EV
• Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
• Focal Length: 500 mm
• Lens: Canon EF 500 mm f/4L IS USM
• Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II