Fresh Flounder For Dinner… Almost

This afternoon and egret plucked himself a nice fresh flounder out of the salt marsh during low tide. The egret struggled with the oddly shaped fish for almost ten minutes before bringing it back into the reeds and dropping it in the mud.

The egret finally decided there was no way he could swallow the flounder the way he would a more streamlined fish, and abandoned it despite all the effort.

A bit later I saw this same egret snacking on some tiny minnows and shrimp and I know leaving his prize catch had to hurt…

22 thoughts on “Fresh Flounder For Dinner… Almost”

Jim Davis on March 2, 2015 at 9:22 pm said:

Super catch for the both of you. Great shots!!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2015 at 4:07 pm said:
  
  Thanks much, I appreciate that!
  
  Reply ↓
Gunta on March 2, 2015 at 9:40 pm said:

That had to hurt, giving up that juicy big fish. Shrimp and minnows weren’t a bad consolation prize, if he got enough of them.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2015 at 4:12 pm said:
  
  He looked really grumpy having to settle for hours of fishing for tiny snacks rather then the one big score he had. Oh well, wasn’t the first time and likely won’t be the last. These guys don’t have the luxury of sitting around feeling sorry for themselves, they have to get right back at it for survival.
  
  Reply ↓
Mike Powell on March 3, 2015 at 7:58 am said:

Great shots of the egret, who seems so confused about how to handle his prize. I especially see that sense of confusion in the second image.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2015 at 4:15 pm said:
  
  Once they catch something they will try everything to get it down. But the sideways shape of a fish like this makes it close to impossible. I have seen great blue herons drop and walk away from flounder too and those birds will eat practically anything.
  https://phillanoue.com/great-blue-heron-photos/#jp-carousel-384
  
  Reply ↓
Cowboys and Crossbones on March 3, 2015 at 3:08 pm said:

Great pics! Although the egret is confused, what about the poor flounder who didn’t even get put to good use?! 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2015 at 4:17 pm said:
  
  Well more then likely some other bird will come along and make a meal out of the flounder. Or in the middle of the night a raccoon will stumble upon it. 🙂
  In any case a nice fresh flounder would have been better then what I had for dinner last night, leftover chili.
  
  Reply ↓
Raewyn's Photos on March 3, 2015 at 3:29 pm said:

Great captures. Yes I can see it would be a huge problem for the egret.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 3, 2015 at 4:18 pm said:
  
  Thank you and yes the wide shape of that type of fish makes it difficult for many of these birds to gt down. I have seen great blue herons catch and then drop a flounder.
  
  https://phillanoue.com/great-blue-heron-photos/#jp-carousel-384
  
  Reply ↓
Patrizia M. on March 3, 2015 at 7:07 pm said:

Bellissimi scatti, sono stupendi caro Phill,
Complimenti. Ciao, Pat

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 5, 2015 at 1:32 pm said:
  
  Grazie Pat! 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
anotherday2paradise on March 3, 2015 at 11:27 pm said:

Fantastic catch! That flounder would have done both hubby and I, very nicely for dinner. What a waste! Great captures, Phil. 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 5, 2015 at 1:34 pm said:
  
  I’m sure somebody ended up with that flounder, if not a bird then a raccoon. 🙂 Fresh flounder would have been better than the leftover chili I had for dinner.
  
  Reply ↓
David on March 4, 2015 at 2:20 pm said:

A very nice flounder he caught. Too bad he couldn’t dine on it.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 5, 2015 at 1:36 pm said:
  
  At least the egret was smart enough to realize it couldn’t eat a fish that size. Making a bad decision out there can be dangerous for these birds. But I know he was disappointed.
  
  Reply ↓
Pat on March 4, 2015 at 8:19 pm said:

What a dilemma!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 5, 2015 at 1:38 pm said:
  
  It sure was but he made the right decision.
  
  Reply ↓
foxleylady on March 5, 2015 at 6:52 am said:

We have a saying here in the UK “Your eyes were bigger than your stomach” in this case bigger than his beak!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 5, 2015 at 1:39 pm said:
  
  Yes indeed! Bigger than that long skinny neck too! That’s where the real problem begins.
  
  Reply ↓
alesiablogs on March 5, 2015 at 3:04 pm said:

Phil -truly great shots! Action packed!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on March 8, 2015 at 1:01 pm said:
  
  Well I’m very happy you enjoyed these photos and I appreciate the kind comments!
  
  Reply ↓