Years ago I installed an old firehose around the base of my dock as a bumper for my boat. Recently, a green heron has decided this is a great place to fish for dinner.
The bird positions itself on the firehose which puts it closer to the water's edge plus it provides a good grip. After snaring its prey in its bill following a lightning quick strike, the heron brings its meal onto the dock presumably as a precaution if the meal tries to escape.
The heron then tightly clamps its victim until it stops wiggling. After that, the bird uses its beak and tongue to reposition its meal so as to be swallowed head first. Then it is down the hatch followed by a triumphant fluff of its feathers.
Yesterday I witnessed this heron capture and swallow five small pinfish in the course of an hour. Tomorrow I will post the catch of the day.
Bubba
Appy
Loc: Flint Hills (Ks)
Great sequence. Such a beautiful bird!
artesdecobo wrote:
Years ago I installed an old firehose around the base of my dock as a bumper for my boat. Recently, a green heron has decided this is a great place to fish for dinner.
The bird positions itself on the firehose which puts it closer to the water's edge plus it provides a good grip. After snaring its prey in its bill following a lightning quick strike, the heron brings its meal onto the dock presumably as a precaution if the meal tries to escape.
The heron then tightly clamps its victim until it stops wiggling. After that, the bird uses its beak and tongue to reposition its meal so as to be swallowed head first. Then it is down the hatch followed by a triumphant fluff of its feathers.
Yesterday I witnessed this heron capture and swallow five small pinfish in the course of an hour. Tomorrow I will post the catch of the day.
Bubba
Years ago I installed an old firehose around the b... (
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Bubba, Interesting story and supportive images.Perfect!Stan
Great action sequence, Bubba!
Great shots Bubba! Super story. BTW...I am going fishing this weekend offshore. Hope to bring back some photos. Probably won't eat the fish as fresh as the Herron did. LOL
phv
Loc: Goleta, California
Just fabulous! Fantastic series!
artesdecobo wrote:
Yesterday I witnessed this heron capture and swallow five small pinfish in the course of an hour. Tomorrow I will post the catch of the day.
Bubba
What a fine series, artesdecobo!
As an addition I'd love to see some shots of the action happening between your first and second shots. Hard to get and you'd probably have to be positioned on the shore or in a boat, but the way a Green Heron walks around with its neck folded into its body and then shoots it out for a lightning strike some distance away is a sight that is amazing and an image worth working for.
Marshall
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