This photograph of a Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Close-up was taken last July at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. I start seeing these birds during June but I haven’t seen any this year and it is already late July. I am wondering if the flood we had back in May had something to do with them not showing up this year (Flooding At Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge). These birds could be back in the flooded timber and I’m just not seeing them but I don’t think this is the case.
Update: I saw a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron July 25, 2019.
A photo of an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron With Crayfish
My favorite place to photograph these birds is at Miner’s Cove which is at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. Miner’s Cove is north of the four corners intersection of the tour road. Miner’s Cove is on the left side when you make the turn (west). I park near the drain pipe before sunrise and wait for these birds to show. They will begin feeding in this area right after sunrise. Most of the time the light is great and I can get some great photos. The only thing bad about this spot is that the road’s raised and I can’t get eye level shots from my pickup.
The road edge has brush I could hide in to get eye level but the Cottonmouth snakes are terrible in this area.
Even though I’m not eye level with these birds the photo still works because of the angle of the shot using the telephoto lens.
Equipment
A Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera with a Canon EF 100 – 400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens with a EF 1.4X III extender attached. The camera and lens were resting on a bean bag draped over the open window of my pickup.
Camera Settings
- Aperture f8
- ISO 800
- Shutter speed 1/800
- Focal Length 560 mm
- -0.3 exposure value