tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post2748819446083151603..comments2023-08-15T10:33:24.977-04:00Comments on Brian King Images: Vole. It's What's For DinnerBrian Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11937257563835611400noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-61665187555277174922013-03-28T04:55:33.874-04:002013-03-28T04:55:33.874-04:00"Since herons are quite majestic birds and wo..."Since herons are quite majestic birds and would never consider eating a dirty meal, this heron dunked the vole not once, not twice, but three times in the lake before eating it."<br /><br />Actually, Great Blue herons will also dunk fish and amphibians before swallowing. We have observed this behavior many, many times, but the actual reason for dunking the meal before swallowing in not known. Interestingly, there are some fish the swallow right down without the dunking ceremony. The reasons for this behavior are just speculative, and we have no consensus on why hey do this. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15242301927628512367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-15211971730209444822011-12-24T21:04:55.468-05:002011-12-24T21:04:55.468-05:00Wowsa, that is impressive, what a moment and such ...Wowsa, that is impressive, what a moment and such great timing for you to get these brilliant captures. I guess protein is protein and maybe when the Heron saw the vole, he thought it was just a fish out of water. Merry Christmas~Mary Howell Cromerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05473298562829352582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-89461308312903114622011-12-24T21:04:47.342-05:002011-12-24T21:04:47.342-05:00Wowsa, that is impressive, what a moment and such ...Wowsa, that is impressive, what a moment and such great timing for you to get these brilliant captures. I guess protein is protein and maybe when the Heron saw the vole, he thought it was just a fish out of water. Merry Christmas~Mary Howell Cromerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05473298562829352582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-52825190905841807752011-12-24T13:43:37.111-05:002011-12-24T13:43:37.111-05:00Unbelievable captures Brian! This is truly an amaz...Unbelievable captures Brian! This is truly an amazing series on the Great Blue Heron eating the vole. According to Birds of North America Online, they eat "mostly fish but also amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and birds." The article also states that they usually dunk small mammals in water before swallowing. My guess is that it makes them easier to swallow if their fur is wet.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09072345959644694466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-33039104639533012512011-12-23T08:01:56.276-05:002011-12-23T08:01:56.276-05:00Wow! Great catch. I never thought of Herons eating...Wow! Great catch. I never thought of Herons eating anything but fish.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08167025586708740663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-88156369541129977042011-12-21T13:29:13.371-05:002011-12-21T13:29:13.371-05:00I was surprised to learn that but it's how her...I was surprised to learn that but it's how herons can stay longer in some of the more northern areas..this is a great set of photos..wow...Rambling Woodshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080120317890707767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-1502614925575227522011-12-21T12:32:40.263-05:002011-12-21T12:32:40.263-05:00Vole, it's what's for dinner!
How funny is...Vole, it's what's for dinner!<br />How funny is that? Hey Brian, great series! You are quickly becoming the foremost Great Blue Heron photographer in the world today. You must be spending the time out there because shots like these don't come easy. I have seen them do that dunking ritual too. The last picture is absolutely blood curdling, Love it!<br />Cheers to you Sir!Springmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09094132506583563094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-55328254858767880612011-12-21T07:20:27.270-05:002011-12-21T07:20:27.270-05:00The poor little vole looks so frightened in the la...The poor little vole looks so frightened in the last shot.<br />Was the heron washing it or drowning it?<br />It certainly made fro a filling meal even if he had to put some effort into it.<br /><br />Amazing photos.Arijahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03720793296992474762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-77253204062604426612011-12-21T06:02:04.489-05:002011-12-21T06:02:04.489-05:00I´m glad it is not my dinner. :) Nice catch!I´m glad it is not my dinner. :) Nice catch!NatureFootstephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01340635075481959029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-62795308799054407152011-12-21T05:42:55.183-05:002011-12-21T05:42:55.183-05:00A stunning series Brian. Excellent, indeed.A stunning series Brian. Excellent, indeed.holdingmomentshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16455039696354576430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-44931466744292633682011-12-21T04:37:37.460-05:002011-12-21T04:37:37.460-05:00At least he washed it before he ate it. :)At least he washed it before he ate it. :)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06116903234641971344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-34722831114672368412011-12-21T02:32:37.470-05:002011-12-21T02:32:37.470-05:00Hi there - what a great set of pictures - one of m...Hi there - what a great set of pictures - one of my target images for 2012 is of a heron actually catching something. I'll have to go some to match these!<br /><br />Cheers - Stewart M - AustraliaStewart Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04622420206244603688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-79770718396451296402011-12-20T21:25:45.928-05:002011-12-20T21:25:45.928-05:00wow I didn't know they ate rodents....great sh...wow I didn't know they ate rodents....great shots...but yucky varmit...looks like the rat my granddog Ginger had...Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11745604261113221887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-6207429683676374042011-12-20T20:58:42.603-05:002011-12-20T20:58:42.603-05:00What!? I had no idea they ate voles. I need some h...What!? I had no idea they ate voles. I need some herons in my backyard then. That's awesome to capture all that on film too!LB @ Bullets And Biscuitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05243995967326067900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-74729199104885006252011-12-20T19:42:36.766-05:002011-12-20T19:42:36.766-05:00:) yes standards, indeed. Maybe the dunking was t...:) yes standards, indeed. Maybe the dunking was to assist in the vole sliding down easier? Magnificent photographs; what an occassion having that happen before your eyes, and your lens.Carole M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13261384312136535762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-48410865575292693952011-12-20T19:35:36.769-05:002011-12-20T19:35:36.769-05:00That's amazing! Love the sequence and great de...That's amazing! Love the sequence and great definition of your photos. Wonderful capture.Karen @ Pieces of Contentmenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00719349569606790410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-63201449287259505092011-12-20T18:37:38.197-05:002011-12-20T18:37:38.197-05:00What a series!What a series!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-83849004867884462242011-12-20T17:15:02.535-05:002011-12-20T17:15:02.535-05:00Awesome series, I love the dunking shot. It had to...Awesome series, I love the dunking shot. It had to be an amazing sight to watch. Great photos.eileeninmdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00070309645796725309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-29611755644205457242011-12-20T16:29:33.379-05:002011-12-20T16:29:33.379-05:00lovely pics...... The heron washed the animal befo...lovely pics...... The heron washed the animal before eating it!!!! Amazing and I thought I was the only one with the washing phobia!!!! Fabulous captures!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853251401928746903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-60781179777940594372011-12-20T16:27:52.665-05:002011-12-20T16:27:52.665-05:00Nice catch, for you and the Great Blue!Nice catch, for you and the Great Blue!Kenneth Cole Schneiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13034897745614006325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-87495144498652141972011-12-20T16:21:53.215-05:002011-12-20T16:21:53.215-05:00A wonderful series of images Brian.
It takes patie...A wonderful series of images Brian.<br />It takes patience to capture a Heron feeding... and you have that my friend..<br /><br />Many thanks for sharing and please accept my best Christmas wishes to you and your family.theconstantwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06243294919370970037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-52417772135234855182011-12-20T16:14:30.832-05:002011-12-20T16:14:30.832-05:00Fantastic series, Brian! Great action, wonderful c...Fantastic series, Brian! Great action, wonderful capture and interesting info!Hilke Brederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18357741278362930033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-46134014468501988422011-12-20T15:16:43.375-05:002011-12-20T15:16:43.375-05:00Holy Moly...or should I say Voly!
Wow. Great captu...Holy Moly...or should I say Voly!<br />Wow. Great captures Brian...super!<br /><br />(And I have to apologize...I had your old blog link up on my sidebar...I was wondering what was going on~~ I hadn't updated your blog link! Sorry about that...I fixed it. I will be around more:)Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07040738593336836064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-33839482322729755632011-12-20T14:54:56.681-05:002011-12-20T14:54:56.681-05:00Nice captures! That's being at the right place...Nice captures! That's being at the right place at the right time! Seems like the heron likes his food wet, dipping that vole.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02606462379785238473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3781891699445400020.post-62988977625124058582011-12-20T14:29:23.238-05:002011-12-20T14:29:23.238-05:00Great series of photos and a really fantastic happ...Great series of photos and a really fantastic happening to see and photograph.mickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08230845410313320080noreply@blogger.com