Great Blue Heron With A Large Sunfish

I had an exhilarating experience today when I came across a magnificent sight: a Great Blue Heron gracefully clutching a substantial sunfish in its bill. Without wasting a second, I swiftly adapted my camera settings and eagerly pressed the shutter button.

Great Blue Heron With Large Sunfish
Great Blue Heron With Large Sunfish

The thrill of capturing such a momentous event is indescribable. Over the past few weeks, I have dedicated my time to photographing both Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets. Unfortunately, their usual habitats have been dwindling, leaving them with meager, shallow pools to fish in. Despite the demanding pace of this endeavor, luck was on my side today at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

To ensure stability, I had positioned my camera and lens atop a bean bag, carefully placed on the window of my pickup truck. As soon as I laid my eyes upon the magnificent bird with the enormous sunfish clenched in its beak, I swiftly adjusted my settings and promptly captured the awe-inspiring moment. And just like that, success! I managed to secure the shot I had been eagerly chasing.

Technical:

Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
Date Taken: June 20, 2020
Aperture: f5.6
Shutter speed: 1/640 sec.
ISO: 2000
Exposure Compensation: +1/2
Focal Length: 500 mm
Lens: Canon EF 500 mm f/4L IS USM
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II