Great Egret with Dinner

Another shot from Florida. As I was taking my evening bike ride I heard some commotion coming from a waterway next to the road. I pulled my bike over to find this Great Egret trying to make a meal of this Mallard x Mottled Duck hybrid duckling. I watched in a sort of bewildered fascination as the egret attempted to swallow this duckling.

 

Eventually, after about five minutes, the egret got the duckling down. The duckling's brother and sisters were completely ignorant of what happened to their sibling as they continued to swim within a few feet of the egret which ate well for the next few days I'd guess. I have very little sympathy for the hybrid duckling, as Mallard x Mottled Duck hybrids have all but replaced the Mottled Duck in Pinellas County.

Done