Last Gasp
Last week I was watching this great blue heron doing some late evening fishing in the marsh pond. At one point he struck at the water and came up with a fish who’s last gasp of life we see here prior to heading down the heron’s throat. Kind of sad for the poor fish but so it goes in nature, the birds need to eat in order to survive and propagate their species.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
One thing that makes images like this so interesting and often even riveting is the fact that fish don’t blink or have eyelids. So their eyes are always so wide open and with the mouth agape it looks quite expressive.
Thanks Steve and I agree, those fish look to be constantly startled, which I expect to a large extent they really must be. Nature can be tough.
Oh my! Such is nature. LOVE Mr./Mrs. Heron’s focused eye. Great detail!
Yes exactly, such is nature and you are right Mr. Heron is totally focused on the task at hand.
Thanks very much for looking!
That’s the circle of life, huh? But the photo is, as always, very impressive! ▲
It is the circle of life for sure and I’m glad you liked the photo!
Poor baby!! I am really starting to feel badly about all those fish so gloriously captured going down a heron’s hatch!!
Poor baby indeed! Yes we sometimes feel bad for the fish especially when the anhinga spears them, that look dramatic yet tragic. Such is nature though.
What a great shot of both the Heron and the Fish!
Thanks Molly, the heron does all the work I just stand around. 🙂
Amazing moment…poor fishy.
It is kind of an amazing moment when it is frozen in time like this. Yes, poor little fishy… ;-(
All eyes and mouths. Nicely graphic.
Thanks and “nicely graphic” sounds quite appropriate.
So shocking, Phil. 😦 Great capture for both you and Mr Heron. 🙂
It is kind of shocking to stare at a frozen moment like this but as I said, so it goes in nature.
I appreciate you checking out this photo Sylvia!
I got alligators from last night, wanna see ’em?! 🙂
One man´s bread … The other´s death … Fantastic photo even though i feel sorry for the little fish // Maria
Yes a tough end for the poor fish but the heron lives to fly another day, such is the cycle of nature.
Glad you liked the photo though. 🙂
Somehow you managed make his last breath memorable.
Thank you Emily I appreciate that.
I’ll never, ever forget the first time I saw an alligator gar grab a baby duck by the feet and pull it down. “Where did it GO?”, I wailed. It was my introduction to the circle of life. Eat or be eaten seems to be the rule – shoot, it IS the rule. But being able to see it in such a detailed and respectful photo is a real gift you give us. Great shot.
Nature can be tough to view sometimes and even tougher up close. I think I would have a very hard time watching and photographing African wildlife chase and eat another animal. Once again I understand it’s nature, but still hard.
I am glad you liked this photo, thanks.
Those two are almost eyeball to eyeball… fantastic shot, as always! We have yet to see a alligator snatch a bird for the full circle… or something close to it.
Thanks Gunta I’m glad you liked the drama of this photo.
I do have images of alligators with caught birds but not sure it’s a good idea to post those.
I thought of that. Perhaps you’re right. In fact, I’m sure you are.
Great shot Phil, fantastic detail.
Thanks much Jan I appreciate you looking.
Hello Phil, I am in awe again :). I know that I will never take photos as good as yours, nor do I aspire to impossible achievements but I would like to know what gear you used for this one. I suppose that owing to the subject matter most of your shots are taken hand-held? (would you disclose me your camera make and lens)
Thank you very much for your kind comments Paula I appreciate it greatly!
I use a Canon 7D with a Canon 300 f4 often with a 1.4 extender attached and I shoot most all action including BIF handheld. I have a tripod but use that mostly as something to hold the camera when I’m not using it. 🙂
🙂 Sounds like a lovely lens 🙂 Would be great to own it and use it some day 🙂 Thank you very much Phil for giving me the details 🙂
As per the norm, you have yet again taken a fantastic photo, you do have to feel sorry for the fish though :), hopefully it was quick and painless………
Yes tough to watch the end of another fish’s life but the heron requires the fish to survive and so the circle of nature continues.
I am glad you liked this photo, thanks.
Fantastic capture of this wildlife scene.
I really appreciate you checking it out and glad you liked the photo.
Beautiful bird, poor fish. It’s the circle of life, though. Whenever a sparrowhawk goes through the garden and takes a small bird (mercifully it doesn’t always get one), sad though it is, I know that that hawk too has babies to feed. And so on and so on ….
We had a Cooper’s Hawk swoop into our backyard bird feeder area recently likely after one of the fat, slow doves, but the doves got away. Yes indeed the hawk needs to eat and feed it’s family.
Thank you for checking out this photo Maggie.
Great catch (no pun intended), Phil!
Thanks much Gracie I appreciate you looking and commenting!
title- action – death – got it all
The ending is the rough part for the fish for sure Scott.
And obviously, the fish are doing the same (propagating, I mean). Great photo.
Yes and the same thing goes on in fish world, we frequently see big fish chasing little fish. Once again the circle of nature.
the best and worst of nature I guess
It can be a hard marsh out there sometimes.
Wow, what a great closeup!
If I was a fish that’s the way I would rather go, down the beautiful GBH’s throat.