Today’s featured photo is a Great Blue Heron I spotted last week, on March 27th, 2024, while visiting the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. This magnificent bird was perched near Horton Slough, its long legs tucked low as it crouched on a dead tree limb jutting out of the water. It was poised for take-off, and I managed to freeze this perfect moment in time just before it launched itself into the air. In fact, it only flew a short distance before landing close by.
While I would have loved to photograph the heron catching fish, this particular spot isn’t ideal for photography. It’s a popular area for anglers, and with the sun rising, more fishermen were sure to arrive soon. So, I decided to let the heron have its morning peace and continue my exploration of the refuge.
Interestingly, this is only the second Great Blue Heron I’ve been able to photograph at Sequoyah this year. While they’re usually the most frequent feathered subjects in my refuge photos, they seem particularly skittish lately. This might be due to the ongoing nesting season – Great Blue Herons typically lay eggs between March and April, with their young fledging by June or July. With any luck, come summertime, I might encounter more heron families as they become active near the water’s edge.
On a positive note, we’ve had some good spring rains this year, and the refuge has plenty of backwater areas for these birds to hunt. Once the water levels recede and the herons move closer to the auto-tour road, I’m confident I’ll have more opportunities to photograph these fascinating creatures. Stay tuned for future updates, and hopefully, some stunning close-ups of Great Blue Herons in their natural habitat!
Amazing capture, prize winner, you can feel the gathering momentum! Congrats!