When the Great Egret catches a Crawdad I notice that it moves it around in its beak making sure it is crushing every part of it.
The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small reptiles and insects, spearing them with its long, sharp bill most of the time by standing still and allowing the prey to come within its striking distance of its bill which it uses as a spear. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.
This post was mentioned on the American Birding Association Blog: Blog Birding #29
15 Comments
What an awesome series!!!! Wow!
WOW!!!!. These are incredible…. I’ve seen all of your other Egret photos but never noticed the green around the face. It really stands out on these. Great detail…
You are setting pretty high standards for yourself you know. What’s next?
Incredible captures Steve!
With your keen eye and awsome action photos we all learn so much; even after 3 years of college wildlife field studies in Fl with a multitude of egrets, I never knew about their crushing abilites for eating crustaceons. Great captures.
I agree with the others. great shots.
Amazing footage we would never see anywhere else. Should I say “smashing”!?
Thanks for the great comments! Tomorrow the Egrets will have Tadpoles on the Menu!
Great shots Steve ……. as usual!
Thank you Lisa!
Steve, these are astonishing photos – if also rather graphic! I can’t help feeling for the well-crushed crawfish as it faces out, taking one last look at the world before … whoop! down the hatch.
Theses are great!
where do you go to get your wildlife shots? I have about 100 acres of protected Wetlands behind my yard.
My “own” private nature preserve,
sue
My favorite place is the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma which is about 40 miles from me but well worth the trip.
Your very lucky to have an area like that behind your house.
Do Egrets eat at night?
thank you,
Amazing photography
Thank you Ken and Zinda, I’m not sure.
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[...] A Close Look At How Egrets Eat Crawdads Steve Creek, writing for Steve Creek Outdoors There’s no need to clutter a post with words when five images can tell the story, and what beautiful captures they are. Plus, who doesn’t love a post about crawdads, especially when they’re the main course? When the Great Egret catches a Crawdad I notice that it moves it around in its beak making sure it is crushing every part of it. [...]