Dinner Time, 6 shots

ebwestebwest Registered Users Posts: 416 Major grins
edited January 22, 2007 in Wildlife
A friend and I were shooting at Viera Wetlands on the East coast of Florida when we saw this Heron with what we thought was a snake. That would have been neat enough, but then we got closer and saw that it was, we thought, a large eel. It was only when we got home and looked at the images greatly enlarged that we saw that it had feet. A little research found that he was actually eating a Lesser Siren Salamander. Phew, I don't usually write that much, here is the series.

Our first view:

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Look right above the beak and you can see a little arm:

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Getting ready for the flip:

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I missed the head going in

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Almost there

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A throat full

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E.B.

http://ebinfl.smugmug.com/

Comments

  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2007
    Awesome series. And I did see the little arm. I almost felt sorry for the thing but such is the circle of life. thumb.gif
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2007
    Great series Eb. Those Herons are amazing creatures.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited January 21, 2007
    that was a fantastic serieswings.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2007
    Great captures
    well done! But I think I'll be skipping breakfast now. Nice shooting!
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • Blonde MomentBlonde Moment Registered Users Posts: 90 Big grins
    edited January 22, 2007
    Good to see we are not the only meat eaters!!!

    Nature at its best!!

    Great stuff
    Mark
    Darwin, Australia
    Nikon D2X, F5, 17-35 AFS f2.8, 50AFD f1.4, 50 AFD f1.8, 85 AFD f1.4, 200 AFS VR f2, SB800, Metz 60-CT1
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  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2007
    That GBH looks familiar. I've seen it in that same spot many times but never with such an interesting snack. Excellent series. clap.gif
    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!"
  • ebwestebwest Registered Users Posts: 416 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2007
    Thanks for all the nice comments. It was a good day all around.
    E.B.

    http://ebinfl.smugmug.com/
  • M_IgnoffoM_Ignoffo Registered Users Posts: 20 Big grins
    edited January 22, 2007
    Fantastic capture! Both you and the GBH!thumb.gif

    It is atypical for a siren to be active during the day, was the heron poking around in the mud for a while? or did it just shoot down to catch it?

    I have spent considerable time searching for a siren to photograph here in Illinois, with no results. They are common in the right habitat, but very secretive.


    Matt

    http://ignoffo.smugmug.com/
  • SenecaSeneca Registered Users Posts: 1,661 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2007
    Wow...very very cool. Love this series...
  • ebwestebwest Registered Users Posts: 416 Major grins
    edited January 22, 2007
    M_Ignoffo wrote:
    Fantastic capture! Both you and the GBH!thumb.gif

    It is atypical for a siren to be active during the day, was the heron poking around in the mud for a while? or did it just shoot down to catch it?

    I have spent considerable time searching for a siren to photograph here in Illinois, with no results. They are common in the right habitat, but very secretive.


    Matt

    http://ignoffo.smugmug.com/
    I'm not real sure, but I think he was just poking around. I didn't see him flying around, the first time we noticed him it was wrapped around his beak.

    Thanks again for the complments.
    E.B.

    http://ebinfl.smugmug.com/
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