Reader Stephen Barnard sent some bird photos from Idaho. First a kildeer (Charadrius vociferus). Click to enlarge.
His notes about the next two pics:
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) . I’m surprised the mallard hen let the chicks get so close to the heron. They’re vicious and would eat a duckling like a snack.
Great Blue Heron pictures again. That’s great!
The herons are gorgeous & it is strange the ducks get so close! Herons swallow everything they possibly can.
Timetree says the duck & heron shared a common ancestor ~120My ago, so maybe the duck thinks the heron’s just a big duck.
Stephen might comment on the distance he saw between them but the big telephoto lens is foreshortening the image quite a lot. It’s an illusion that they are as close as they appear.
The ducks were right next to the heron, in easy striking distance.
Hmmmm hadn’t thought of that.
Today’s photies? (Together with Hili’s photos, of course!)
There is nothing “vicious” about the predatory habits of a Heron or any other meat eater.
“Red in tooth and claw”.
Love the light, Stephen. Holding detail in that last one couldn’t have been easy.
b&
Wow, great light and composition, especially the last one! These are great, Stephen.
OK, vicious is a loaded word, but in my experience GBHs will kill and eat anything they can swallow, and some things they can’t swallow.
Sometimes this place gets a golden light in the evening, with the sunset in the background reflecting off the water.