Squacco Herons foraging
The now following images were all made on September 03 2011 at the Rio Grande (Andalusia), as a small group of Squacco Herons were resting there and were coming within a few meters to our "camouflage car". Even more, they allowed that I again and again could start the car to follow them for a few meters upriver..
It is early in the morning and …
… we were watching entranced, that one …
... of the Squacco Herons already had caught a fish, bringing it …
… in the right position and …
… swallowing it very quickly:
With very watchful eyes and very cautious, slow motions …
… this other Squacco Heron is walking at the river bank and …
… repeatedly stops:
Nothing may betray his presence …
… to the fishes:
Aha, now he again discovered something and …
… now his terrific long neck is to be used, which he now makes as long as possible, while his feet remain perfectly still in the water:
"Soon I'll get it!"
But unfortunately this action was not successful and …
… carefully …
… the Squacco Heron continues to walk upriver:
Another one stays in ambush position at the edge of the riverbank
Another one has had it for the day and is cleaning its plumage until …
… also the last little feather is dry and placed in the right position:
"Well, was it funny and nice to watch us?"
It was just like a dream!!!
Best regards
Birgit Kremer