I was driving the auto tour road at Sequoyah when I spotted a Great Blue Heron along the water’s edge. Moments later it came up with a fish.
It was a quick sequence, but it had everything I love about watching wading birds. One clean strike, then the careful work of handling the catch.
Wildlife Notes
I found this Great Blue Heron hunting right beside the road at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. It stayed focused on the water and hardly moved until it committed.
Great Blue Herons often hunt by standing still and waiting. When they do strike, it happens fast. This bird surfaced with a fish and clamped down tight, then shifted its grip to control the meal.
I also like the small details in moments like this. The posture changes, the head angle, and that steady stare all tell you the bird is working through the next step.
Photography Notes
I made this photo from my pickup truck. Shooting from the vehicle helped me keep a low profile and gave me a stable platform.
I rested the camera on a bean bag over the open window. That support mattered, especially at the long end of the zoom.
For this shot I used a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II at 400mm. I shot in AV (Aperture Priority) with these settings:
- Aperture: f/5.6
- Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
- ISO: 800
That shutter speed helped freeze the action while the heron handled the fish. The focal length let me keep a respectful distance and still fill the frame.
Closing
This is why I like slow drives on refuge roads. You never know when something simple will turn into a perfect wildlife moment.
Sequoyah delivered again, and I was glad to be there when it happened.