I’m standing along Marsh Rabbit Run trail at Circle B Bar Reserve trying to take pictures of the baby sandhill cranes. There were several other photographers there and we were all being quiet while hoping the cranes would get a little closer to the trail. All of a sudden we heard this loud crunch right behind us. We all turned around and saw this otter eating what we thought was a small turtle. He was chowing down pretty hard and making a loud crunching noise. It was almost as if he was saying “Hey guys, I’m back here.” He eventually finished it and swam off.
On Wading Bird Way, I see a great blue heron having a hard time with a snake. I took these right into the sun so they didn’t turn out to great but it was pretty funny watching him fight the snake.
He seemed to look back at me like “Can you help me with this?”
He kept shaking his head and the snake unwrapped around his beak but they continued to fight for a while. Eventually, the heron got the snake down. It made me wonder if the birds ever get bitten by a poisonous snake. Will they die if they get bite? And if they swallow the snake whole while it’s still alive, can the snake bite their stomach? It’s a tough life being a bird.
These blue winged teals didn’t get the memo telling them to go home for the summer. These were the only ones I saw in the park and they were feeding together in a tight group. The tricolored heron was sneaking by them, probably trying to see what they were eating.
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Amazing shots as always! I go walking at a place called Cranes Roost, it’s a very public park that surrounds a decent sized mass of water. There is a family of otters living there which I got to see while on an early morning walk a few weeks back. They have some seriously big teeth, lol. We also see a lot of blue heron, cranes, seagulls, etc (so many different types that I have no clue what their proper names are). One of the many reasons I love Florida!
Gotta say, I’ve never seen a heron, or any other bird, eat a snake (is that a moccasin?). I onder the same thing as you, what happens if it gets bit once it swallows the snake….
Awesome, as always. What a life you lead. You can walk out your door and come home, every day, with a load of pictures that any photographer would die for. In that respect … I want to be you 🙂 . Very interesting question about what happens to the bird if bitten by the snake … or even if the poisons are released during the digestive process … are they nuulified by the acids. Wow … I think I will have to explore that. Thanks for another start to an interesting day.
Andrea @ From the Sol.
wow! the snake and heron shots are great! poor heron!
Great series, Dina!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Fantastic wildlife images… wonderful to see.
Superb images….the comment above is me also… I am so confused blogging at the moment.
Great images as always Dina. Sorry but can’t answer the question .. Heron v. Snake either.
Amazing photos!! Great capture of the otter, would be fantastic to see it in real! And the heron with the snake is outstanding!!
Yikes! those shots of the heron and snake are amazing!
Wow, to be right there and catch the drama. Good for you. Bad for the snake which I do feel for. Your questions though are ones I have thought of myself.
Incredible images Dina! Love the Great Blue Heron with the snake and the ducks with the Tri-colored Heron. Beautiful shots!
Fantastic images Dina! Love the Great Blue Heron with the snake and the ducks with the Tri-clored Heron. Fabulous photos!
A very interesting post and the photos of the heron and the snake are fantastic. Now I want to know if the snake is a poisonous one?
Those are awesome, Dina! I’ve seen videos of herons eating snakes, but never in person. They went pretty much as you described. Fantastic shots!
Simply awesome Dina. The shot of the snake striking back at the heron is out of this world. You must have been shaking when this was going on. What drama!
Greetings from Oman!!!
Amazing captures specially the one of the snake and the blue heron!
Shantana
Awesome shots, – exciting to see!
A perfect post for WBW!
happy Easter to you!
Wow, the snake and heron shots are amazing. Great post, Dina!
That’s a great shot of the otter, Dina!
Your photos of the struggle between the heron and the snake are incredible.
Hi there – seems that the heron went to a lot of time and effort for just a few small fish – rendmis me of me!Great sequence.You may find my “other blog” of interest – more words about being outdoors. There is a link from my photo-blog.Cheers – Stewart M – Australia
Fascinating shots, Dina. We’ve been away, and I have a lot of your posts on my gmail, but I will catch up eventually.
K
I have seen several questions above about whether or not the heron gets bit while swallowing a poisonous snake but it wasn’t answered so what is the answer?