During my recent visit to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to capture stunning shots of a Pied-billed Grebe in action. This bird species is renowned for its unique ability to swallow fish whole, making it a fascinating subject for wildlife photography.
Despite my initial doubts, the Pied-billed Grebe was able to successfully capture and carry the fish to the surface. These birds are known to dive for their food, making this feat even more impressive. Within just a few seconds, the bird had swallowed the fish whole. Witnessing this bird in action was truly remarkable, especially given the size of the fish it was attempting to consume.
To capture this moment on camera, I parked at Miner’s Cove in the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. My trusty Fujifilm X-T3 camera, paired with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro, was set up on a bean bag resting on the open window of my pickup.
The Pied-billed Grebe is an extraordinary species found in many parts of the world. My visit to the Miner’s Cove area of the refuge allowed me to observe these unique birds in their natural habitat.
Camera Settings
- AV Mode
- Aperture: f5.6
- ISO: 1600
- Shutter speed: 1/640 sec.
- Focal Length: 400 mm