Heron - A lesson in Stealth

[daiben]

Took a walk with my binoculars down to the bird hide, overlooking the Oxbow Lakes in Dinefwr Park, Llandeilo, this afternoon. Large numbers of Mallard and Widgeon present plus some Teal and a few Shovelers. Was watching a Little Egret on the far bank when suddenly, a Heron took off amongst the reeds and landed on the near bank below me. After settling, it slowly waded into the water and remained motionless amongst the reeds. After a few minutes it suddenly lowered its head and froze. What followed was absolutely incredible and the speed at which it suddenly pulled a Pike of at least 3 Lbs. weight out of the water was amazing. It brought it onto the bank and after a brief struggle, turned the pike so that it could be devoured head first. It craned its neck and suddenly the whole fish disappeared down its expanding throat in seconds.
Wish I'd been near enough to video it.

[henben]

I saw a similar thing on the Nevern some 30 years ago, except that it was a cormorant with a large flat fish of some sort. The bird swallowed the fish alive but it got stuck in its throat and it looked like it had a frying pan stuck sideways in its narrow neck. I did not stick around to watch how it coped with it - no doubt it managed but it would have been too painful to watch.