Big Lunch

Last week we saw this great blue heron pull a large fish out of the salt marsh. The GBH took three minutes to get the fish under control and into proper position for a head first gulp down. In one photo you can see an interested gull do a fly by during the event and in the next, a cormorant pops it’s head up out of the water for a quick look around.
We were also quite sure there were no bald eagles in the area because a blue heron with nice fish is generally the eagle magnet.
Of course *we* were hoping an eagle would show up but the GBH most certainly was hoping the opposite. The heron was lucky though, he got to keep his prize catch and make a very nice meal out of it.

47 thoughts on “Big Lunch”

lylekrahn on December 17, 2012 at 1:12 pm said:

The herons keep coming, the fish keep getting swallowed and you continue to catch it all. Wonderful.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:29 pm said:
  
  I just wonder what they are doing when I’m not there. Probably just sitting around doing nothing waiting for me to show up. They wouldn’t want me to miss any action.
  
  Reply ↓
janmasyn on December 17, 2012 at 1:12 pm said:

As usual, great captures Phil.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:29 pm said:
  
  I appreciate it Jan!
  
  Reply ↓
thehappyhugger on December 17, 2012 at 1:14 pm said:

That was a good catch for the day 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:30 pm said:
  
  It was a good catch for the day. And after sitting for a bit he flew off to a tree to relax and let it digest. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
monisertel on December 17, 2012 at 1:28 pm said:

Sensational pics, amazing series,
my congrats, Phil!!!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:30 pm said:
  
  Thanks moni I’m glad you enjoyed these GBH pics!
  
  Reply ↓
Chillbrook on December 17, 2012 at 1:38 pm said:

That really is a big lunch. Fabulous series Phil! 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:31 pm said:
  
  Thanks for looking and commenting Adrian!
  
  Reply ↓
Judi van der Kaay on December 17, 2012 at 2:21 pm said:

Just looking at the neck extension gave me shivers …. can’t imagine what it must feel like! Hopefully the fish was out of commision …. fascinating and thanks for a great series (as usual :c) )

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:32 pm said:
  
  Thanks Judi. You should see one that just swallowed a eel. Talk about giving you shivers. 😯 😀
  
  Reply ↓
adinparadise on December 17, 2012 at 2:32 pm said:

Fantastic shots, Phil. That fish would have fed hubby and I for dinner. 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:33 pm said:
  
  I know. That’s a great meal for two right there! This boy was not interested in sharing however. 😀
  Thanks for checking out these pics.
  
  Reply ↓
davidharris518 on December 17, 2012 at 2:45 pm said:

Great photos. You do manage to grab some really nice shots of birds with their catch…what’s your action plan for getting those?…

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:34 pm said:
  
  Thanks much David.
  Usually I will set up on a likely looking suspect such as this GBH and see if anything happens. Sometimes some good action like this, other times nothin’. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
BobR on December 17, 2012 at 2:53 pm said:

Bears a slight resmblence to my lunch today. 🙂 Nice shots.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 6:11 pm said:
  
  It’s good lunch for any of us I’m thinking! 😀 Thanks for checking out these pics!
  
  Reply ↓
gregjoder on December 17, 2012 at 3:16 pm said:

Excellent capture! Fun to see the sequence =0)

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:35 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much, glad you liked these photos!
  
  Reply ↓
Gracie on December 17, 2012 at 4:14 pm said:

Very nice series, Phil!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:35 pm said:
  
  I appreciate you checking them out Gracie!
  
  Reply ↓
sallywoodphotography on December 17, 2012 at 5:30 pm said:

Wow, that is a great sequence for a science class or something ! .. very interesting!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 5:36 pm said:
  
  Humm, might be good for a science class. 😀 Thanks!
  
  Reply ↓
  - sallywoodphotography on December 17, 2012 at 5:42 pm said:
    
    I think we are always taught about the certain birds that swallow fish whole, well,,,, this proves it!! If you get a chance check out this heron pic.. from fellow blogger Rick Alonzo.. http://rickalonzophoto.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/great-blue-heron-glow/
    
    Reply ↓
    - Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 6:09 pm said:
      
      Thanks Sally I checked that out, great pic and thanks for mentioning my site.
      
      Reply ↓
      - sallywoodphotography on December 17, 2012 at 6:25 pm said:
        
        Rick lives in Florida and is a blossoming photog too,, lol! He is a nice blogger friend!
        
        Reply ↓
        
        Rick Alonzo Photography on December 17, 2012 at 10:20 pm said:
        
        Thanks Sally and Phil! I appreciate the link and your kind words! I’m glad we are all part of the blogging / photo community. 🙂
        
        Reply ↓
        
        Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:45 pm said:
        
        Sounds great to me! 😀
        
        Reply ↓
jimbey on December 17, 2012 at 5:36 pm said:

Simply awesome … amazing sequence of the action – and even two new photo bombs. Also, that last shot after the “big gulp” shows the neck bulge – an instant classic!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 17, 2012 at 6:10 pm said:
  
  I really appreciate you looking and commenting, thanks and glad you liked these GBH photos!
  
  Reply ↓
Bella Remy Photography on December 17, 2012 at 7:46 pm said:

Now that is a nice looking fish. I’m thinking marshside firepit with an iron skillet. Forget the BE, we’re going to eat that beauty.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:45 pm said:
  
  The fish does kind of look tasty doesn’t it?! 😀
  
  Reply ↓
Charlyn Dougherty on December 17, 2012 at 9:14 pm said:

I’ve heard that eating the eyeballs are a delicacy… but come on!!!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:46 pm said:
  
  This boy is eating the eyeballs and every other part of the fish in one big gulp! Thanks for looking and commenting Char!
  
  Reply ↓
Rick Alonzo Photography on December 17, 2012 at 10:23 pm said:

Whoa! Yeah that is a big lunch! Great job.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:47 pm said:
  
  I appreciate you checking out these pics Rick!
  
  Reply ↓
The Wanderlust Gene on December 18, 2012 at 12:23 am said:

Goodness – that fish was a bit of a mouthful! Lets hope our GBH didn’t get an attack of indigestion. Wonderful shots, as usual. Phil 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:48 pm said:
  
  It was a mouthful for sure! He did have kind of a funny look on his face for a while after swallowing that fish. We were wondering if he was going to actually continue fishing, but soon he flew off to a nearby tree presumably to digest. 😀
  Thanks much!
  
  Reply ↓
Rexlin Victor on December 18, 2012 at 12:30 am said:

Wow, beautiful shots!!! I hope it will be it’s dinner also 🙂 .

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:49 pm said:
  
  Glad you liked these photos! This fish should keep him full for a day or two I’m thinking. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Gunta on December 18, 2012 at 5:05 am said:

That shot of the fish bulging out the neck is simply incredible. Wonderful sequence… I can’t seem to get enough of these birds. They’re almost enough to make me forget the alligators.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:50 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Gunta I’m happy you enjoyed these GBH photos!
  I certainly do not want you to forget about our alligator pals so my post for today is especially for you! 😀
  
  Reply ↓
meyer23 on December 18, 2012 at 5:13 am said:

Wonderful series of this heron. Awesome and impressive.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on December 18, 2012 at 12:51 pm said:
  
  Thanks much! I appreciate you looking and commenting! 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
Molly Argo on December 18, 2012 at 7:22 pm said:

I love these photos! I am once again amazed at the size of fish they can eat.

Reply ↓
GOAT 山羊 on December 18, 2012 at 7:51 pm said:

What a way to go! Who’d be a fish?

Reply ↓