Well, the covid monster finally caught up to my hubby and I. Although I got off with mild cold symptoms, hubby wasn't quite as lucky. After a week, and he's still fighting a nagging cough. Oh well, at least we finally got that over with - and we'll have immunity for a little while.
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| "Gotcha!" |
A few weeks ago, I took a morning walk around our local duck pond. Of course, I always bring my camera, because you never know what critters will be there. This time, I got lucky and spotted a cormorant that had just caught a big catfish.
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| "Let's take this fishie for a ride" |
The cormorant was fun to watch. He tossed the fish into the air, catching it with his beak. Then he drug the fish through the water again and again.
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| Fish toss |
The whole process took about 5 minutes. Not sure what purpose the frequent dunkings served. Maybe it provided lubrication to slide down the bird's throat?
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| Will he fit in my mouth? |
The first time the cormorant tried to eat the fish, it appeared to lodge in it's throat. It didn't look like that big catfish would fit.
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| Down the hatch |
But somehow that bird got it in the right position, and before I knew what happened, he had gulped that fish down.
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| Tummy now full, it's time to fly away |
Lunch now over, the cormorant flapped his wings and took off to another area of the park.
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| Pie-billed grebe with a crawfish |
Just the other day I returned to the park to try out a new lens I'd purchased. I had barely walked up to the pond when I spotted a pie-billed grebe with a crawdad in it's mouth. As with the cormorant, I couldn't believe the grebe would be able to swallow something that big. But after a few sessions of dragging it through the water, he did!
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| This grebe caught a tiny catfish |
After making a circuit around the pond, I returned to the same spot, and there was another grebe (or maybe the same one?) with a tiny catfish. Oh boy, more photo fun!
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| Proud of his catch |
Between a trip home to see family in late January and being sick I haven't had much time for hiking. But after next week's ski trip I hope to remedy that. Stay tuned, I'll be posting more outdoorsy stuff real soon!
Remarkable photos! I hope your hubby feels better soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed that the Cormorant could take off after that meal! (or maybe I'm just thinking of what I'm like after Sunday lunch these days).
ReplyDelete...fabulous captures!
ReplyDeleteNice captures! Sounds like the vaccinations did the trick, keeping you safe from the worst of it!
ReplyDeleteWow, you hit the bird feeding jackpot! I love your photos.
ReplyDeleteYou must be thrilled with this new lens. Spectacular captures.
ReplyDeleteHope Covid loses its grip on your hubby soon. I had an acute case in September and still have some lingering after-effects. Somehow, Bob nursed me through the worst of it and didn't get sick. Love your bird action shots. They all got full tummies. I thought of you last week. Friends visited Breck and their daughter also flew in for a few days - she's working at Mount Bachelor this season and loving it.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that you had covid and I hope your hubby gets over his cough soon.
ReplyDelete