As the Great Gray readies to consume its catch a membrane of some sort begins to slide across the eyes, an effect I've seen quite a few times during this process...often giving the owl an odd glazed over appearance. You can see part of it starting to move over the eye in this image.
They swallow the rodent whole so it doesn't take long at all. From the time they start to swallow it until it disappears down the owl, maybe 10-15 seconds or so.
How fast do they gobble that mouse up? I have seen a snowy owl gobble a mouse and it was done in less than 2 seconds..I am guessing this is the same with the great gray? GReat detail BTW!
Another unique capture right at the moment the nictitating membrane engages over the pupil! This gallery just never ceases to amaze from one photo to the next!
Yvonne