Great Blue Heron - Catfish for Lunch

PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
edited November 17, 2010 in Wildlife
Came across this Great Blue Heron struggling with its lunch at our home on Avery Island, Louisiana. It took that heron many tries to get the catfish in position so it could be swallowed head first. And the amazing part to me was seeing the outline of the huge fish in the heron's neck just after it swallowed, stretching its neck as high and straight as it could. Best, Pam McIlhenny

Catfish capture:
1011143648_XbfEE-L.jpg

Finally got the catfish in position (sadly photo is not sharp):
1011144255_4Pc67-L.jpg

Swallowing:
1011144470_ktu5p-L.jpg

Evidence of catfish still visible in heron's neck:
1011144796_BSjjF-L.jpg

Comments

  • hersh86hersh86 Registered Users Posts: 28 Big grins
    edited November 14, 2010
    Nice photos. Amazed that a bird would try and eat something so big compared to its mouth and beak. Love the pose of #4 he looks like he is really strugling to swallow that thing.
    Nikon D5000
    Nikkor 18-55 VR
    Nikkor 55-200 VR
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited November 14, 2010
    hersh86 wrote: »
    Nice photos. Amazed that a bird would try and eat something so big compared to its mouth and beak. Love the pose of #4 he looks like he is really strugling to swallow that thing.

    Thank you and no kidding! I have read that Great Blue Herons swallow their meals whole,and occasionally choke to death on them. These photos made a believer out of me! Best, Pam
  • jackiejayjackiejay Registered Users Posts: 714 Major grins
    edited November 15, 2010
    Oh my I never knew they could eat something so large I know how I feel when I over eat wonder if they feel the same way lol,Nice set of pics.:0
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 16, 2010
    Nice captures Pam. Its always interesting to watch the GBH's manage their catch.

    You could have opened up your aperture setting on these captures to increase your shutter speed. 1/200 sec is a bit too slow for many wildlife captures.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • PGMPGM Registered Users Posts: 2,007 Major grins
    edited November 16, 2010
    Thank you, Harry. Tell me this: for general wildlife photos using a long lens, do you shoot in shutter priority or aperture priority or set everything manually? I have lately been thinking that aperture priority with the aperture wide open is the best approach, but would surely appreciate your advice. Thanks again, Pam
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited November 17, 2010
    PGM wrote: »
    Thank you, Harry. Tell me this: for general wildlife photos using a long lens, do you shoot in shutter priority or aperture priority or set everything manually? I have lately been thinking that aperture priority with the aperture wide open is the best approach, but would surely appreciate your advice. Thanks again, Pam


    I usually shoot around 75% aperture priority and 25% manual. When I'm trying to isolate on one subject and minimize the BG I shoot wide open.

    There's no "one size fits all" setting. It depends on what image you want to capture when you press down on the shutter release.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
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