I photographed this Great Blue Heron Taking Off from the deep section of the Charleston City Lake in Charleston, Arkansas.
Because of their size and ability to forage in deeper waters, Great Blue Herons can access habitats that are inaccessible to most other heron species.
The Great Blue Heron often forages in shallow waters, typically less than 2 feet deep, or along the water’s edge both during the day and at night, but notably at dawn and dusk.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Taking Off
Here is the same Great Blue Heron lifting off from the Charleston City Lake Dam: Great Blue Heron Lifting Off
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: RF 800mm F11 IS STM
Technical:
I photographed this Bird while sitting in my pickup. I had my camera and lens resting on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup.
- Location: Charleston City Lake (Arkansas)
- Date and Time Taken: January 9, 2023 (10:59 A. M.)
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f11
- Shutter speed: 1/3200
- ISO: 3200 (Auto)
- White Balance: Auto
- Metering Mode: Evaluative
- Back-button Focus
- Animal Eye Single Point Auto Focus
- Exposure Compensation: -4/3 EV
- Focal Length: 800 mm