Eeeek!!, I hate when they do that!

Discussion

5 replies

Posted by David Schoen on January 12, 2007 at 7:14 PM

iso 100, 200mm plus telextender 2X VR, handheld, 125th sec, f7

note: the nictating membrane over the heron's eye is closed.

Posted by Marc Adamus on January 12, 2007 at 7:43 PM

Great catch, David! Post this one in the Avian gallery too.

Posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 12, 2007 at 10:41 PM

Excellent catch! Any chance for a bit more on the top? I didn't realize the herons ate little rodents too..
Sandy r

Posted by Catherine Reilly on January 13, 2007 at 4:54 AM

Great shot! Wow! I thought they just ate fish. Wouldn't it be awful to be speared by that bill? Oh, lordy, that would hurt. I'm not a rodent fan, but still....

Wow, what a shot....

Posted by Sean Watson on January 13, 2007 at 6:08 AM

David,

Wow. I'm surpised how steady things were here. 1/125s? I'd expect both parties to be shaking more than that. (Plus, handheld at an effective 400mm... Pretty steady hands, even with VR.)

Too bad about the reed. Still, you caught this in a pretty decisive moment.

(Just a thought... This is a bit on the graphic side for some viewers. You might want to warn people a little in the title of the post in the future.)

Marc,

Avian forum? This is clearly a portrait of a condemned vole (?) ... Should be fauna, no?

Catherine,

I don't think this guy was speared. I think the heron missed a little and just grabbed the little guy by his front leg. I bet he didn't suffer long.

-- Sean

Posted by David Schoen on January 13, 2007 at 12:56 PM

sean, here is a site on flickr with more hungry herons. in addition to my photo above, there is a second image taken at the same time that will in fact show you the guy was speared...
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ardeidae/discuss/72157594305242200/
additionally, I have seen a photo somewhere on the net of a heron eating a small groundhog. go figure.