I pulled into the parking area at Lost Lake in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge last week. Right away, a Great Blue Heron caught my eye as it stood in the shallows, working the water for fish. Parking close to the lake’s edge gave me the chance to start shooting from the truck while the bird hunted its breakfast.
After watching for a bit, I stepped out and moved closer to the waterline. I crouched low to get a more eye-level perspective. That first shot shows the payoff. The heron had just speared a small fish. You can see it dangling from that dagger-like bill. The low angle puts you right there with the bird instead of looking down. That change makes the image much more engaging.
I eventually drove off to explore other areas, but when I circled back later this same heron was still there. Persistence paid off for both of us. I got more shots. Judging by its success rate, this bird was having a productive morning.
Wildlife Notes: Great Blue Heron Behavior and Habitat
Great Blue Herons are the largest herons in North America. They stand around 4 feet tall with a wingspan that can reach 6 feet. They are patient, methodical hunters that wade slowly through shallow water. When they spot prey such as fish, frogs, small mammals, or even snakes, they strike with remarkable speed. They use that long, sharp bill like a spear.
Lost Lake provided ideal conditions for this heron. The shallow, vegetation-dotted water you see in these photos is perfect hunting habitat. Herons prefer these slow-moving or still waters where they can easily spot movement below the surface. The aquatic plants also attract smaller fish and amphibians, creating a productive feeding ground.
These birds are found year-round throughout much of Oklahoma. Some northern populations migrate south for winter. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge offers excellent heron habitat with its mix of lakes, ponds, and wetland areas. You often see them standing motionless at the water’s edge or wading slowly through the shallows. Their neck is coiled and ready to strike.
One interesting detail in the second photo is the heron’s catch. You can see the small fish more clearly. The yellow-orange bill color and the streaked neck plumage show this is an adult bird. Juveniles have darker bills and more uniform coloring.
Photography Notes: Shooting Wading Birds at Eye Level
Why Angle Matters
Getting down low made all the difference here. When you shoot wading birds from a standing position or from inside a vehicle, you look down on them. That creates a less engaging perspective and often includes a busy background. By crouching at the water’s edge, I brought the camera closer to the heron’s eye level. This creates a more intimate connection with the subject and naturally blurs the background into softer tones.
Camera Settings in the Field
The Canon RF 200-800mm lens gave me the reach I needed without disturbing the bird. For the first image, I was shooting at 1/2500 second at ISO 2500 with an aperture of f/9. That shutter speed froze the action perfectly. This is critical when you try to capture a heron with prey in its bill. The higher ISO was necessary given the f/9 aperture and the overcast light. The R5 Mark II handles noise well at that level.
The second photo shows a cleaner exposure at ISO 640. This tells me the light had improved or I adjusted my position to use better lighting. I kept the same shutter speed and aperture, which kept the technical approach consistent.
Lens Trade-Offs
A few things are worth noting. F/9 gave me enough depth of field to keep the entire bird sharp while still blurring the background. With the 200-800mm lens, you work with a narrow maximum aperture (f/6.3-9 depending on focal length). I was zoomed out toward the longer end where f/9 is the widest available. That is one of the trade-offs with this lens. The reach more than makes up for it, especially for wildlife at a distance.
Compositional Details
The water’s surface with the vegetation creates natural leading lines and texture that add interest without being distracting. In both shots, the reflections are subtle but present, which grounds the bird in its environment.
Patience Pays Off
If you’re photographing herons or other wading birds, patience is key. They move slowly and deliberately, which gives you time to adjust your position and settings. Watch for the moment when they catch something. That’s when you get shots like these where the behavior tells a story rather than just being a static portrait.
You can see more photos from this encounter on my Flickr page.
This week I have been sharing images from my trip to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. If you want to see what else I found, start with my post on Post Oak and Treasure Lakes
Camera Gear:
- Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9 IS USM
- Aperture: f/9
- Shutter Speed: 1/2500 second
- ISO: 2500 (first image), 640 (second image)