The following photos show a Green Heron (Butorides virescens), possibly an immature, spotted during a photowalk through the central wetland area at Huntley Meadows Park. This individual was stalking and eating a frog. The heron speared the frog with both the upper and lower parts of its beak. As a result, the heron seemed to have difficulty removing its beak from the frog. Photo 2 shows the heron trying to shake free of the frog (notice the spray of water droplets); no luck. Eventually the heron flew to a nearby tree, where I lost sight of the predator and its prey. This is the same bird featured in another of my spottings.
Copyright © 2012 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved. www.wsanford.com
Tags: Butorides virescens, Green Heron, Huntley Meadows Park, predator, prey, wildlife photography
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