One can only imagine what is going through the frog’s mind as he looks into the crazed eyes of the green heron who has just speared him. Is he looking for mercy? Is he resigned to his fate?
I watched the prelude to this moment unfold this afternoon at Huntley Meadows Park, a marshland park here in Virginia. The green heron was intently scanning the water from the edge of a boardwalk that runs through the march. Periodically he would extend his neck down toward the water.
Several times we heard an excited “eeep” sound followed by a splash, indicating another frog had escaped. After a few more minutes, however, the heron dived into the water and reappeared on the boardwalk with the speared frog you see in the first photo.
When you look at the comparative size of the heron’s mouth and the frog, it hardly seems possible that the green heron could swallow the entire frog. The heron took his time shifting the position of the frog and then all at once he turned his head, bent his neck back a little, and down went the frog. It happened so quickly that I was able to snap only a single photo that shows the frog’s webbed feet as the only remaining parts that have not yet been swallowed.
In this final photo the heron no longer has a slim neck. I have no idea how long it will take for the frog to reach the heron’s stomach but I am pretty sure he was not yet there when I took this photo.
And don’t try to talk with the heron during this period. Why not? Read the caption of the last photo!
I can’t talk now. I have a frog in my throat.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Incredible time lapse bird photos!!! Cheers Nonoy Manga
Thanks for the encouragement. There was a real element of luck in being at the right place at the right time.
Cool shot! Poor frog!
I feel bad about the frog but would feel equally bad about a starving heron. As I watched the heron I had to admire his skill at catching food. In some ways the fact that the photo is close enough to see the eyes makes it more personal and almost intimate.
You’re right. I think the fact that the shot is so intimate drew me in.It’s an amazing shot. I still feel bad for those on the bottom of the food chain.
First, excellent photography. Second, VERY cool seeing a green heron in Virginia… we have blue herons here in Ontario, although I have yet to get a good photo (I usually see them from my kayak, and I never risk taking my good camera paddling) Third, I saw the frog in the throat joke coming, and yet I found it hilarious. Really, how often do you get to use that line literally? Finally… I don’t always blog about nature (I take pictures of anything/anyone willing to get in front of my camera…) but I posted some of my recent birdwatching photos here: http://anotherperspectivephotography.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/visitors-to-my-office-gananoque-photographer/
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. I have been fortunate to get photos of a green heron twice in the past month. Prior to that I did not even know of their existence. I am glad to see you appreciated my attempt at humor, though I agree that it was pretty easy to anticipate. I will definitely check out your blog. I have been doing a blog now for a little over two weeks and welcome the chance to look to others for inspiration.
Mike, great action photos. Would you share with us what lens you were using and where you were to get such great close-ups. thanks.
I was shooting with a Canon 55-250mm zoom lens on my Canon Rebel XT DSLR. My camera was on a tripod the whole time, which helped me keep steady. In many ways I was fortunate because of the boardwalk that I was on that ran through the marsh. The green heron used it as a kind of diving platform and after he speared the frog he flew back onto the boardwalk with his prey in his mouth. I did do some cropping too, but not an outrageous amount.
Getting a shot of a heron eating is tough! Great post.
Thanks. It was mostly a matter of luck that I was in the right place at the right time.
Your first shot is priceless. Oh, the “expression” on the poor frog’s face! I can imagine this made into a framed inspirational–or rather sympathetic–offering for office-bound folks who have just been singled out by the boss to be saddled with the task that everyone dreads . . .
Hmm…maybe I need to sponsor a caption contest! You’ve planted an idea in my head. Thanks!
Always happy to help with any kind of (mutual) inspiration!
Wonderful photos!
Thanks. It was a unique opportunity.
[…] a posting on 24 July I showed a green heron swallowing a frog whole. I was not able to see how this blue […]
Marvelous photos, Mike. Long time since we saw you last at HHH in Stump Canyon.
It certainly has been a long time, although I do have lots of great memories of fun and fellowship with the whole extended family there.
[…] to the last line of the posting, and is one of my favorites over the past two years. Here’s a link to the original posting or you can read it in its entirety […]
[…] The sun was barely up, but this little Green Heron (Butorides virescens) was already busy, trying to find something to eat for breakfast. Alas, I didn’t see the heron catch anything this time before it moved out of sight. (If you want to see a fun shot of a Green Heron looking directly at a frog that it had just captured, check out my post from July 2012 entitled Not Seeing Eye to Eye.) […]