Plenty of both, mostly lucky to be able to frequent the nesting area. It is a unique location on a small island close to the shore of a lake which is bordered by a city park. Waiting for good light when the chicks are still small is where patience pays off. The egret colony shares the trees on the island with cormorants and a few herons. It provides tremendous photo ops.

Thanks for the view and the comment, Montana.

Thank you!

Thanks, kpmac. I have plenty of rejects with blown highlights, that's for sure. But I think I'm starting to get the hang of a good exposure with these beautiful white birds.

Thanks for viewing and your comment. They are pretty tough to get close too when they're not on the nest!

Thanks, MadMikeOne.
It's a real joy being able to watch them grow!

Thank you, Carol!

Thanks, Tikva. The little one grow so fast!

There is a nesting area in Fergus Falls Minnesota that provides outstanding photo ops.
All taken hand-held with Oly EM1 mkII and Leica 100-400.

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I have had some very nice results with the Leica/Panasonic 100-400mm on my Oly Em1 Mk2. However, I do find the zoom action on the lens considerably stiffer and "notchy" compared to my Olympus and Canon L zooms (I also use a Canon 5D MkIV). The action has loosened up a bit but it still doesn't compare to the buttery feel of the Olympus and Canon zooms. The 100-400 I find to be a bit soft at 400mm, but backing off just a tiny bit, say to 385mm sharpens things up nicely. My experience has been that the in-body stabilization and the in-lens stabilization provide about the same results. They do not combine to offer even greater advantage like the Oly 12-100 f/4 does. I shoot mostly hand-held with this lens and it continually amazes me that I can get such sharp results hand holding a lens with this extreme field of view. I'll admit that I suffered a little buyer's remorse immediately after this purchase, but now that I have adapted my technique to accommodate the lens characteristics, I am happy with the lens and the results I'm getting with it. I agree that it is not the fastest lens around, and if one were comfortable shooting at a fixed focal length, the Olympus 300mm with a teleconverter might be a better choice.

I'll have to speak up for the Olympus crowd. The EM1 Mk 2 is an incredible camera that seems to cover the requirements you have mentioned. The image stabilization alone is reason enough to consider this marvelous camera. Coupled with the 12-100mm f/4 lens (24 to 200mm equivalent field of view) provides a compact and extremely versatile system. Add a fast prime if you anticipate low light, moving subject situations and the Leica/Panasonic 100-400mm (200-800mm equiv) and you have a compact system capable of taking top notch images for just about every situation. Additionally, the stabilization makes for outstanding video quality. Certainly an option to consider.

I've had this lens for several years and it remains among my favorites. I'm sure you'll be pleased with your purchase.
It is quite versatile, and excels, as one would expect, when used for macro shots.
I used it for a few years on a Canon 7D with excellent results. When I finally went full frame last year with a 5d IV, the results with this lens are exceptional.
I've whiled away many a winter hour (plenty of those here in Minnesota) taking macro shots in my basement "studio" where a small table with a draped cloth background and a couple of directional spotlights have sufficed. Delving into off camera flash is somewhere in my future with this lens.
Enjoy!

Glad you solved the issue! Happy shooting.

On page 136 of the manual it describes how when in AI Servo mode if 1st image priority is set to Focus Priority that you will not be able to take a pic until focus is achieved.

I just tried this with my 5DmIV. In manual mode I set ISO, aperture and shutter speed so that I was underexposed by 5 stops. This takes the meter 2 stops below the -3 mark, showing < on the meter. No problem. It took the shot, appropriately underexposed. I'd suggest you check your other settings. The suggestion about auto focus was a good one as you can set things up so that the camera will not take the shot if it can't focus.
A tip for the moon, start at f11 and 1/125 second at ISO 100. That should get you close. Good luck!