Heron eating a rabbit

Heron, and indeed most birds are opportunists and will eat what they find and often will even kill when needed to survive. Raptors aren't the only game in town.
 
quite impressive!!

That is possibly an understatement!

They do seem to catch and swallow such weighty prey it is a wonder they manage to fly.
 
Fascinating video, thanks for sharing. I never thought they would manage that!!
 
Many years ago I watched a Herron try and swallow a coot, after half an hour was disturbed and just gave up.

Never thought they be able to swallow a bunny tho, impressive
 
Missed this 1st time around ... they will tackle anything.
Reminds me of one I saw tackling the biggest freshwater eel I have ever seen ... it was as long as the Heron and he couldn't swallow it!
 
Wez another cheers for sharing,thanks mate. I know they can take big stuff but actually seeing it (ok via vid) is really amazing it just doesn't seem possible. Wez I painted narrow boats for a while as me job. trust me nowt glamorous. We were having our break overlooking the marina when this heron came in for all the world like an osprey and nailed a huge fish smack in the middle of the marina. Obviously the catch was done with beak not talons,but it's the fact we watched it catch off the wing that I found jaw dropping never seen this before or since or even read of it actually I just thought they stood still and stabbed stuff;). They really are amazing birds

thanks again Wez I know not yours but still grateful

take care

Stu
 
Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen the vid, amazing.
 
What was the rabbit doing in the water?

I had no idea rabbits could swim. And if they can't, how long had it been dead when the heron found it?
 
Having watched gulls doing the same thing Phil I'd say it caught the rabit alive in the reed bed then drowns it before swallowing. The way the rabbits legs are curled up at the start looks like it's still alive.

The gulls on Skomer and Skokholm also fly them out from the cliffs then drop them from hundreds of feet before swooping down and finishing them off. Nature in the raw.
 
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