Heron/Squirrel

Gallery: AvianPosted September 21, 2013304 views16 comments

As I was leaving Lindo Lakes in Lakeside Ca. I heard a commotion, and as I turned around, I thought I saw a Great Blue Heron with a large fish. I was wrong. He had a full grown squirrel !....in flight ! Unfortunately after killing the squirrel on shore he realized he could not swallow it. Bad day for both. I know the picture quality is not that great. It's a large crop and because of the quickness in which this happened, I did not have the best settings.

Nikon D600
Sigma 120-400
F 5.6
ISO 400
1/1250
Manual
Handheld

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on September 21, 2013 at 2:58 PM

outstanding behavior/action photo and the I does not look that bad to me...

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 21, 2013 at 3:23 PM

Remarkable activity - this is an image that would be very useful for any avian biologist.

An excellent capture!

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

Comment posted by David Sewell on September 21, 2013 at 3:39 PM

That is an amazing piece of behaviour. I guess a hungry animal will try anything.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 21, 2013 at 4:00 PM

Super catch Mike, the techs look good to me, would have loved to see it larger

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on September 21, 2013 at 4:35 PM

Got no problems with the techs or the shot. Interesting and unique behavior. A larger image would go a long way toward ease of critiquing.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on September 21, 2013 at 7:30 PM

Incredible! I like this one a lot! Nice light, and I don't think it's that bad tech-wise. Never heard of or seen this behavior before. Sharon

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 21, 2013 at 7:51 PM

Great documentary image, Mike, despite some minor shortcomings. The heron looks excellent at this size. I've seen them hunting voles in the winter and given their penchant for trying to down outsized fish, I guess I shouldn't be surprised at this. Well done.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on September 21, 2013 at 9:21 PM

A one in an million capture. Quite unique, you did a fantastic job with this image. Very special!

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

Comment posted by John Jeevaratnam on September 21, 2013 at 10:52 PM

Interesting shot. I never knew GRBH eat Squirrels. Would like to see the larger image. Nice sharp shot.

Registered on July 29, 2013, 112 Posts, 229 Comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on September 22, 2013 at 3:34 AM

I didn't know they would try for a squirrel! Very cool moment you captured here, Mike.

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on September 22, 2013 at 5:31 AM

Wow - what a moment and what a shot..... You reacted quickly - well done ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 22, 2013 at 12:26 PM

Very nice job on this grab shot!
Don't need to complain about settings.

Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on September 22, 2013 at 3:11 PM

Whoa

Great catch for both of you Mike!

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on September 22, 2013 at 4:38 PM

Great catch regardless of the picture quality.

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

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on September 23, 2013 at 12:15 PM

This is amazing. The moment you captured is unique!

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on September 26, 2013 at 10:02 AM

Neat!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments