A Great Blue Heron can look calm one second, then turn into pure power the next. This morning at Charleston City Lake, I watched one launch straight out of deep water, and I shot the whole takeoff sequence.
Wildlife Notes
This heron was out in water deeper than you usually see smaller waders use. Great Blue Herons can wade belly-deep at times, and they hunt by standing still, then striking fast.
When it decided to leave, the takeoff was the best part. Water adds drag, so the bird had to work harder at the start. It threw its wings wide, beat fast, and climbed out with its long legs trailing behind. In flight, Great Blue Herons keep the neck pulled in and the legs stretched back.
Photography Notes
I shot this from my pickup, which is still one of my favorite ways to stay steady and avoid spooking birds. I rested my camera and lens on a bean bag over the open window.
Gear and settings (from my notes):
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: RF 800mm F11 IS STM
- Date/Time: January 9, 2023 at 10:59 AM
- Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f/11
- Shutter: 1/3200
- ISO: 3200 (auto)
- Exposure comp: -4/3 EV
- Focal length: 800mm
That shutter speed did the heavy lifting. It froze the wingbeats and the spray, which is exactly what I wanted for a takeoff sequence.
Closing
I’ve photographed a lot of Great Blue Herons, but a clean deep-water launch never gets old. If you want to see a similar moment from this same spot, I linked another lift-off post below.
Related: Here is the same heron lifting off from the Charleston City Lake dam: Great Blue Heron Lifting Off