20130809 379 Great Blue Heron & Muskrat.jpg by Hank Vander Velde

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09-AUG-2013	Hank v/d Velde

20130809 379 Great Blue Heron & Muskrat.jpg

Ottawa West

"Dinner Time!"
This GB Heron recently returned to the park where it had been catching small fish etc. This time, however, it came out of the reeds with a young muskrat. And yes, after making sure it was dead, it swallowed it headfirst whilst some mallards swam and/or perched nearby without showing the least bit of interest.

Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED VR AF
1/640s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso560 hide exif

Full EXIF Info

Date/Time 09-Aug-2013 09:26:24

Make Nikon

Model NIKON D800

Flash Used No

Focal Length 400 mm

Exposure Time 1/625 sec

Aperture f/8

ISO Equivalent 560

Exposure Bias -0.33

White Balance

Metering Mode

JPEG Quality

Exposure Program

Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto

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Sam Rua 16-Aug-2013 19:35
What a catch. Looks quite proud of itself.

Claude Gagnon 16-Aug-2013 12:34
Wow, so interesting this lunch history :))

Trent Watts 16-Aug-2013 12:22
What an unusual catch for a Heron. Well, at least it seems unusual to me. Maybe it's common breakfast material if you are a Great Blue. Great shot Hank.

Yiannis Pavlis 16-Aug-2013 03:56
Awesome color and clarity.Such a beautiful photo.V

Milan Vogrin 14-Aug-2013 06:52
Great catch, for both of you!V!

Fong Lam 13-Aug-2013 11:42
Wow, what a capture, Hank...sad for the muskrat...V

Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal 13-Aug-2013 08:32
Reigers eten ook alles, een mooi beeld Hank!! V

Bryan Murahashi 13-Aug-2013 03:53
Great catch, Hank. Always amazing that they can swallow such a large critter.

Yi Feng 13-Aug-2013 01:57
Fantastic shot, Hank!

Jean D 13-Aug-2013 01:04
Excellent capture, Hank. I'm surprised that the GBH also eats red meat..

Janet Forjan-Freedman 13-Aug-2013 00:21
Excellent but sad capture of the circle of life.

Guest 12-Aug-2013 23:12
Super image and a super opportunity for you to photograph this incident...

janescottcumming 12-Aug-2013 23:01
Wow, what a sighting! A fantastic image Hank. Terrific work.

Pierre Martin 12-Aug-2013 22:41
super sharp shot!!

Chris Spracklen 12-Aug-2013 19:52
Extraordinary diet, Hank! And a fabulous catch by you, too, my friend!

godro 12-Aug-2013 19:44
nice capture, well done!

Colin Storey 12-Aug-2013 19:20
Wow, thats a big catch for the heron and a fantastic image of it for you.

Eric Martin 12-Aug-2013 17:12
Nice image and good timing.

Larry Umthun 12-Aug-2013 15:25
What a great find Hank. Excellent work.

Tom LeRoy 12-Aug-2013 13:57
The GB Heron looks well pleased with this catch. Great shot, Hank. V

Marcia Colelli 12-Aug-2013 13:43
Nice timing and excellent timing. Poor little Muskrat. :-( V

Jim Coffman 12-Aug-2013 13:18
Lunch is served! Good one,Hank!

Carol Rollins 12-Aug-2013 13:17
Wow, a Muskrat - I never would have thought.... Super capture Hank! ~

jychamberland 12-Aug-2013 12:47
beautiful catch for you and him Hank!

CatherineSimard 12-Aug-2013 12:25
Cool shot Hank!

francoisconstantin 12-Aug-2013 12:16
Nice catch...for both of you!!!

Stephanie 12-Aug-2013 12:14
OMG! I had no idea a Heron would eat a muskrat! Excellent capture Hank! :)

Yaki Zander. 12-Aug-2013 12:14
Beautiful image.

larose forest photos 12-Aug-2013 11:55
Wow, that is quite the shot and a good documentation of the feeding habits of great blues. I have seen them taking voles in fields, but not a muskrat. Amazing.

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Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	09-Aug-2013 09:26:24
Make	Nikon
Model	NIKON D800
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	400 mm
Exposure Time	1/625 sec
Aperture	f/8
ISO Equivalent	560
Exposure Bias	-0.33
White Balance
Metering Mode
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment

Sam Rua		16-Aug-2013 19:35
What a catch. Looks quite proud of itself.

Claude Gagnon		16-Aug-2013 12:34
Wow, so interesting this lunch history :))

Trent Watts		16-Aug-2013 12:22
What an unusual catch for a Heron. Well, at least it seems unusual to me. Maybe it's common breakfast material if you are a Great Blue. Great shot Hank.

Yiannis Pavlis		16-Aug-2013 03:56
Awesome color and clarity.Such a beautiful photo.V

Milan Vogrin		14-Aug-2013 06:52
Great catch, for both of you!V!

Fong Lam		13-Aug-2013 11:42
Wow, what a capture, Hank...sad for the muskrat...V

Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal		13-Aug-2013 08:32
Reigers eten ook alles, een mooi beeld Hank!! V

Bryan Murahashi		13-Aug-2013 03:53
Great catch, Hank. Always amazing that they can swallow such a large critter.

Jean D		13-Aug-2013 01:04
Excellent capture, Hank. I'm surprised that the GBH also eats red meat..

Janet Forjan-Freedman		13-Aug-2013 00:21
Excellent but sad capture of the circle of life.

Guest		12-Aug-2013 23:12
Super image and a super opportunity for you to photograph this incident...

janescottcumming		12-Aug-2013 23:01
Wow, what a sighting! A fantastic image Hank. Terrific work.

Chris Spracklen		12-Aug-2013 19:52
Extraordinary diet, Hank! And a fabulous catch by you, too, my friend!

Colin Storey		12-Aug-2013 19:20
Wow, thats a big catch for the heron and a fantastic image of it for you.

Larry Umthun		12-Aug-2013 15:25
What a great find Hank. Excellent work.

Tom LeRoy		12-Aug-2013 13:57
The GB Heron looks well pleased with this catch. Great shot, Hank. V

Marcia Colelli		12-Aug-2013 13:43
Nice timing and excellent timing. Poor little Muskrat. :-( V

Carol Rollins		12-Aug-2013 13:17
Wow, a Muskrat - I never would have thought.... Super capture Hank! ~

jychamberland		12-Aug-2013 12:47
beautiful catch for you and him Hank!

francoisconstantin		12-Aug-2013 12:16
Nice catch...for both of you!!!

Stephanie		12-Aug-2013 12:14
OMG! I had no idea a Heron would eat a muskrat! Excellent capture Hank! :)

larose forest photos		12-Aug-2013 11:55
Wow, that is quite the shot and a good documentation of the feeding habits of great blues. I have seen them taking voles in fields, but not a muskrat. Amazing.