YC NightHeron Flips Frog

Gallery: AvianPosted July 13, 2012645 views31 comments

This is my first post of an image taken near our near home in Texas. I found some Yellow-crowned Night Herons hunting at Kitty Hollow Park in Missouri City. This one captured a large frog and had a hard time getting it down the throat, flipping it several times before it got it into the right position. This allowed me to approach on foot and get a low angle. This was the last flip after which the heron finally swallowed the frog. Note the tongue of the frog hanging out and the nictacting membrane of the heron partially up. A sliver taken from the right, over 90% of the original frame.

7D 500F4 1/800 F5, iso 500, handheld

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on July 13, 2012 at 9:24 PM

I say again Nate, welcome to Texas. This is a fabulous 1st post from your new hunting grounds. It's a top notch shot of the YCNH in what looks like some sweet soft light and then throw in the 'frog toss' - killer shot!

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 13, 2012 at 9:26 PM

I dream of taking shots like this! Outstanding Nate. Enjoy the new surroundings.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on July 13, 2012 at 9:56 PM

Perfect timing Nate! Love the action set against the solid background, this really makes the subjects pop. Nice work!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on July 13, 2012 at 10:38 PM

Fantastic catch, Nate. Good use of the few moments of light we've had since you got here.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on July 13, 2012 at 11:01 PM

Wow! Perfect timing. Gotta feel for that little frog !!

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 13, 2012 at 11:02 PM

Great - looks like Texas is treating you well already!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 13, 2012 at 11:10 PM

Fabulous image! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on July 13, 2012 at 11:35 PM

Outstanding.......you nailed it!

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 14, 2012 at 12:19 AM

Great catch!!

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 14, 2012 at 12:34 AM

Not a bad start. How's that for an understatement?

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on July 14, 2012 at 12:51 AM

Wonderful timing, Nate! As I have noticed with most birds that toss, they swallow head first.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 14, 2012 at 2:12 AM

Looks like your new home is being very hospitable. This is an awesome photo Nate

Great action with a very pleasing perspective and of course the detail is excellent as always.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on July 14, 2012 at 8:02 AM

Sweet action Nate. Nice sharpness and location too.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 14, 2012 at 8:28 AM

A prime example of awesome timing, love this Nate!
The tiny pink tongue of the frog and the few drops of water flyin' are magic..
Excellent

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on July 14, 2012 at 8:44 AM

Amazing photo Nate. I'm looking forward to more images from Texas.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 14, 2012 at 9:42 AM

Timing is everything and you nailed this - the only thing that is too bad is the eyelid coming over - but that's pure biologiy.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 14, 2012 at 11:54 AM

Great capture of the moment, Nate! Love all the elements in this image. Great profile and background to set up the YCNH. I find the oof grass stalk below the neck slightly distracting - not sure if cloning or blurring is an option.

Looks like you are enjoying your new locale.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on July 14, 2012 at 12:12 PM

Terrific action; great setting.

You might want to change your location info in the signature file from WA to TX.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 14, 2012 at 1:34 PM

Cool shot, Nate. Welcome to the South!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on July 14, 2012 at 2:16 PM

This is awesome in every way!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 14, 2012 at 7:34 PM

oh, man! that's awesome! no nits from me, and a superb action shot.

I'm guessing Texas will be very productive for you!

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on July 15, 2012 at 8:21 AM

Sweet image Nate! Great emotion, detail in the heron, good eye contact and good bg to isolate the scene!
Congrats on a WOW shot!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on July 15, 2012 at 10:23 AM

Nate, great action shot! Looks like the frog actually decided to jump into the heron's mouth. I know that herons & egrets flip fish, but didn't know that they did it with other prey.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on July 15, 2012 at 12:23 PM

Are you kidding!! Wow great timing.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 15, 2012 at 6:30 PM

Thanks for your kind comments everyone!

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on July 16, 2012 at 1:51 PM

Down the Hatch

You know it only has to get better now

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on July 16, 2012 at 11:36 PM

What a superb shot, Nate. Love everything about it, and the action is superb.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on July 16, 2012 at 11:59 PM

Cool shot with the subject perfectly isolated by the DOF and the action frozen at just the right time. Nicely done.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on July 17, 2012 at 11:22 AM

Great catch and a wonderful shot. It is simply stunning.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Norma Tareila Matl on August 28, 2017 at 3:38 PM

Amazing photo!

Registered on October 27, 2016, 229 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on August 29, 2017 at 7:07 AM

Nate,
Somehow missed this first time round.
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL devil

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments