A Great Blue Heron lifting off from the Charleston City Lake Dam here in Arkansas. I photographed it with the tips of its toes still touching the ground.
I posted a photo a few days ago of this same Great Blue Heron Taking Off from the deep section of this same lake near the Dam.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Lifting Off
I photographed this Great Blue Heron while sitting in my pickup. I had my camera and lens resting on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Technical:
- Location: Charleston City Lake (Arkansas)
- Date and Time Taken: January 23, 2023 (09:50 A. M.)
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f7.1
- Shutter speed: 1/3200
- ISO: 640 (Auto)
- White Balance: Auto
- Metering Mode: Evaluative
- Back-button Focus
- Animal Eye Single Point Auto Focus
- Exposure Compensation: -1 EV
- Focal Length: 500 mm