Plunge-diving Heron

[JeffH]

Having been a keen birder for more than 30 years now I reckon I must have watched dozens of Herons hunting for prey in the shallows of rivers, lakes and ponds - including my own garden pond

Most people with an interest in birds will be familiar with the bird's usual technique of striding slowly but deliberately through the water before striking at the fish, frog or whatever with its dagger-like beak - as illustrated in the first 3 photos below -







However, on an all too short two day visit to Mull (we fell in love with the place ) during our holiday on the west coast of Scotland in May, my wife and I came across a bird with a rather different technique and one which I certainly haven't seen before.

As we crossed over a river bridge we spotted this bird standing on a large rock in the middle of the river and at a point where the water was about 4 or 5 feet deep.

We stopped and watched it and were astounded when it started to make a series of plunge-dives into the water (sort of Kingfisher-style but in a rather less elegant way!) and becoming almost completely immersed each time with just its wing tips and tail feathers showing on one occasion. It then emerged phoenix-like from the water and returned to the rock where it spiked its feathers to dry them.

The bird did this 5 or 6 times in the space of 45 minutes and each time I took a rapid fire sequence of photos (at 5 frames per second) - here's one such sequence in its entirety -































As already mentioned, I've never seen a Heron do this before and I found it absolutely fascinating.

Has anyone else ever witnessed such behaviour?

Jeff

[leifus]

no i haven't - great photos - it must've taken ages to upload them all

[deer boy]

More stunning pics Jeff & another super sequence of shots

Originally Posted by JeffH

Remind anyone of a certain Man Utd player

[colincurry]

Amazing, Jeff

Thanks for sharing your privilege.

Colin

[aeshna5]

Again Jeff an amazing sequence of behaviour shots of a very familiar species.

I don't think I've seen a Grey Heron behave quite like this, but in US I've seen other species such as Snowy + Great Egrets do this + particularly manic in their hunting are the more maritime Reddish Egrets.

Thanks again for treating us to these superb sets of behaviour.

[Rob_D]

Again a superb set of shots Jeff.

I was wondering about Herons getting their feathers wet. Having never seen one in the water, as opposed to walking over it, I assumed they are not too keen on going right in/under, but this one proves otherwise.

Last month I saw a Heron getting harassed by a Great Skua in the north of Skye. The Heron was in the middle of a large bay when I saw it, and I immediately thought he was in big trouble so far out to sea. Within a minute, the Bonxie had struck several more times and the Heron just dropped into the sea. He flapped once, but didn't get airborne. The Skua then landed next to it and finished it off.

So maybe the Heron could have survived the landing on the sea, but was too exhausted after all the attacks to get up again, rather than because he was too waterlogged.

[Stefan]

Remind anyone of a certain Man Utd player

Which one doesn't it remind me of?


Very very cool shots, I have only ever seen a few herons, one in the pond and a few flying away. Nice shots

[Ukwildlifeo]

Great sequence. This behaviour isnt unheard of (theres a paper in 'Bird Study' I think), bur Ive never seen it before. Well caught

[Jason Green]

Amazing sequential series

[annmaria]

Wow it just looks weird for such a bird, did it actually manage to get anything? I think its pic No 1o going down , is that a fish ........
Annmaria

[Jason Green]

AM - Yes, the tail-end is to the left of the heron's bill

[Tracey.A]

If someone had told me that they'd seen a heron diving I probably would have smiled politely and moved on. I've never seen a Grey heron behave this way, your sequence of photos are just amazing! You are so lucky and we are so lucky that you took those brilliant shots

Deer boy, does everything remind you of football?

Cheers

Tracey

[deer boy]

Originally Posted by Tracey.A

Deer boy, does everything remind you of football? Tracey

Sorry but i'm obsessed with football & wildlife