Just sharing.

[Lemars]

If I'd taken a video like that, I'd be extremely proud of myself !!
I've only ever seen two shrews in the wild - and never a film of a shrew making a game of removing the legs of a beetle one by one (well, that's what it appeared to be doing) just to stop it escaping.

Thank you for `just sharing'

[sharki]

Thanks for the comments and i'm glad you enjoyed it.

I was wondering myself about whether it had lost it's teeth, the shrew would normally have an impressive set on gnashers, this one seemed to be giving it a gummy chew.

I should of filmed more of the moment, but as i switched to camera mode, the simple click and whirr of the motor driven lens alarmed the shrew and it scurried off into shelter. I was buzzing afterwards as i knew it was a special rare occasion to witness what i just did.

Mind you, i get the same buzz from filming and photographing anything in our wonder wild world.

[STYRBJORN]

Sharki -
Why have you adopted as your site name the nickname of the evil wizard Saruman? I only ask. . . .

[sharki]

My self adopted nickname and therefore forum name comes from my admiration and interest in Sharks.

I never had a nickname, but when i started using cycling forums i didn't wish to use my real name so came up with something related to a deep interest of mine.

I'm now known as Sharki and most people in my life call me it, some don't even know my real name.

I never realised that 'Sharkey' was infact the name used by mr nasty pants himself until 3 years ago.
HTH

[STYRBJORN]

Originally Posted by sharki

My self adopted nickname and therefore forum name comes from my admiration and interest in Sharks.

I never had a nickname, but when i started using cycling forums i didn't wish to use my real name so came up with something related to a deep interest of mine.

I'm now known as Sharki and most people in my life call me it, some don't even know my real name.

I never realised that 'Sharkey' was infact the name used by mr nasty pants himself until 3 years ago.
HTH

Groan.

Great clip. I must admit my sympathy was with the beekle!

ATB. Ric

[Kayleigh]

Great video..well captured, its lovely to get a glimpse in to the life of these illusive creatures..
Thanks for sharing..

[Wild-Woman]

I think this piece of footage would be a good'un for Springwatch when it's back.

[STYRBJORN]

It also provides a good illustration of evolution getting it wrong. Insectivores have a very high metabolic rate and need to eat their own weight in insects every day. The shrew was hard-wired to eat the beekle and couldn't give up. Yet as said it was at risk from predators all the time. Not only birds, a fox or even a rat would have gone yum-yum and got stuck in. Also, the energy expended in killing the beekle probably exceeded the gain from eating it. It would have done better to leave the big beekle and go find a few small ones, but its wiring wouldn't allow it.

People tend to assume that evolution gets it right all the time every time. This turns out not to be the case. Evolution "satisfices". Near enough is good enough; a fuzzy algorithm if you wish. For me, this is one of the best proofs of the truth of evolution. No "intelligent designer" would be so sloppy. Inside-out retinas anybody?

Heading for Rantsville. Who designed the "intelligent designer"? ? ?

[Jason Green]

Evening Sharky,

Great footage, I've only ever seen a dead one; my first, last year. Chris beat me to it, I was going to add Carabid.

Originally Posted by PMG

I wondered whether the shrew was getting older and losing its teeth as it looked as tho it was trying to suck the beetle to death rather than bite it!! Smashing bit of footage tho!

I couldn't comment on the shrew's age, but I'm not surprised it was tough trying to eat it. Carabids, at least those I've examined, are fantastically well-armoured. Better than other beetles I've seen (no note-worthy soft-spots), in my opinion.

Take care,

Jason

[sharki]

Thanks for the replies, i may just pop the link to the Spring/summer watch team and see if they want to share it.

Tough armour! I should say so, reminded me of the black knight scene from monty python..