Great Blue Heron Eating a Rat


Posted by RichardMittleman/Gon2Foto on Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:58 pm

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Image
Bolsa Chica this Sunday.
Check the series of images including the "swallow" which I posted in the Essay forum.
I once saw a Great Blue grab a ground squirrel at Bolsa, but didn't get any shots of it. He flew off to the water, dunked the squirrel once and swallowed it. I was shocked as I'd never seen them eat anything but fish, snakes and dragonflies.
Now I can add rats to the list.
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by Mike Wilson on Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:21 am
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What a tasty morsel. Love to see something different like this uncommon eating habit. Apparently it has no taste buds. These guys are eating machines.
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by Dick Ginkowski on Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:24 am
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Wow!~ A groovy shot indeed!
Do you have any technicals on it?
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by Alan Murphy on Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:32 am
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I just saw this in the Photo Essays Forum. Everyone should check out the great photo series that Richard did.

Great shot Richard.
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by AlexC on Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:35 am
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Velociraptors in feather dresses!!!
8) 8) 8) , Way cool !!!!! 8)
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by Ed Miller on Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:54 am
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Super shot Richard. Great timing.
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by fredcor on Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:27 am
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Great shot. The bird's plumage is excellent!
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by Bill Whala on Tue Jan 20, 2004 10:35 am
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Now this is different!! :shock:
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by Carol Clarke on Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:06 am
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We saw a Red Crowned Crane doing this once at our local wildlife park! but couldn't get a shot of it. :cry:

Excellent catch Richard - for the GBH and more importantly - You!! 8) :)
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by Jim Neiger on Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:10 pm
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Cool capture Richard! 8) I've seen GBHs eat lots of different critters, but never a big rat.
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by Alan Melle on Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:18 pm
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Terrific behavior shot!
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by Bruce DiVaccaro on Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:20 pm
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Richard,

Awesome shot. Great job capturing the action.
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by Cliff Beittel on Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:49 pm
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Richard,

Very nice! It's the position of the rat's legs that makes the shot for me.
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by ajhand on Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:57 pm
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And now for something completely different.
The rat's front paws look like they are grabbing for one last attempt at escape. I saw a GBH doing this last year, but it wasn't in a great setting like this, and I missed the action anyway. They don't waste a lot of time swallowing these things.

Very cool.

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by Ken Newcombe on Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:59 pm
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Terrific action shot Richard, never seen this though I have a friend who saw one take a Red Squirrel.
 

by Jill on Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:05 pm
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Extraordinary!!! And a fantastic Photo Essay as well, Richard. This is certainly something I never knew!! 8) 8)
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by E.J. Peiker on Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:46 pm
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Very cool shot Richard!
 

by Laura Stiefel on Tue Jan 20, 2004 9:54 pm
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:shock: :shock: :shock:

This is too cool. I'm off to check out the essay.
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by Marc Oliver on Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:04 pm
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Holy smokes!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: I can't believe I almost missed this! What an awesome behavioral shot. I've never witnessed anything like this but I have been told that herons will go for pretty well anything that moves and can be swallowed. I guess your shot proves it. Well done! 8)

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by Chip Estabrooks on Wed Jan 21, 2004 7:40 pm
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My kinda shot! Super capture.
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