Some days the next photo shows up right in front of you. After photographing cormorants at Charleston City Lake, I spotted an Eastern Bluebird perched on a blue barrel beside my truck.
Wildlife Notes
The bluebird landed on the barrel and held still long enough for a clean portrait. It felt like it was using that bright perch as a lookout, scanning the shoreline and nearby brush.
This was at Charleston City Lake in Charleston, Arkansas, on February 12, 2023, late in the morning. That timing matters, because winter and early spring can bring quick bursts of activity between quiet stretches.
Photography Notes
I was still in my pickup when I saw it. To get a steady angle, I opened the door and used the door frame as support for my camera and lens.
Gear Used:
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 800 mm F11 IS STM
Technical:
- Location: Charleston City Lake (Arkansas)
- Date and Time Taken: February 12, 2023 (09:59 A. M.)
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f11 (Fixed)
- Shutter speed: 1/1600
- ISO: 1000 (Auto)
- Focal Length: 800 mm (Fixed)
That shutter speed helped freeze small head movements. The fixed f/11 meant I leaned on shutter speed and ISO to hold detail in the feathers. The door frame support kept things steady without needing a tripod.
Closing
I went to the lake for cormorants, and a bluebird stole the show. That blue barrel was a perfect little stage, and I am glad I noticed it in time.