Predator and Prey
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The Northern Pike, a ferocious predatory fish, became the prey.
The low water level in the Sturgeon River means that it is easy to spot the Great Blue Herons out and about catching fish in the shallow water.
Bright and early one morning in July, I met up with my birding friend, Ivan D. and we were privileged to be able to observe and photograph this heron fishing for breakfast at fairly close range. This heron's fishing skills were amazingly impressive. Within a span of one hour, it caught three pikes. Each time, it promptly swallowed the unfortunate fish head first - all in one go.
Nikon D500 w/ 500mmf4G + 1.4X
(Taken on: July 31, 2021, Sturgeon River, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada.)
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Sparrowhawk [Accipiter nisus] f.
This little beauty appeared at The Pixies just after I had re-filled all the bird feeders...All the usual little songbirds, blue-, great-, and coaltits, nuthatches and chaffinches, were having a feast when, suddenly, they all disappeared into the trees.
I was thrilled to have caught this image but the implications of her presence here are really quite chilling...Of course, she has to eat, too, but the wee birdies have absolutely no chance against these lethal talons and beak.
She left this perch very soon after arriving and the wee birdies soon resumed their eating and seed- and nut-gathering.
The Circle Of Life? Ambivalence and cognitive dissonance...
(I know it’s not a great shot - she was very high up in this tree )
At The Pixies
South Carrick Hills
SW Scotland
(edited)
Labyrinth Spider (Agelena labyrinthica) & Sweat Bee (Andrena Sp.) | 05-2022 | Ticino | Switzerland
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
A version in color of this photo (and of one where the spider attacks and is in focus) you can find here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/other-fauna?pgid=krc12ip9-c9a0a...
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO:
I was trying to get a good shot of a labyrinth spider in my garden, when suddenly this little sweat bee got caught in the web. As the bee frantically tried to escape the sticky trap, the spider attacked. I thought the little bee was all done for, but to my surprise, it used its sting to great effect.
The spider attacked again and again, but it had huge respect of the little fella's sting, and it just couldn't get the right angle to overwhelm the bee and tie it up. Eventually, the spider retreated, and the little guy made it out alive and unharmed.
Now for those of you who feel sorry for the spider that lost a juicy meal, don't worry: that web of hers was incredibly efficient, and she feasted like a queen every day during the time I was there (which is probably partly the reason why she gave up relatively easily on the little bee).
In case you're interested, you can find the color version of this photo and of one where the spider attacks and is in focus through the link above, but the reason I prefer the one in b/w (intentionally "over-sharpened" to create a "grainy", "grungy" look ;-) and with the focus on the little bee is that it reminds me of the posters for horror/sci-fi B-movies of the 50s like 'Tarantula' or 'Them' - and I adore those 😉
As always, many greetings from Switzerland; try to stay out of the heat and let me know what you think in the comments 😊
This is another photo of that Kodak moment when mama Grizzly sat down to nurse her 3 cubs. I couldn't decide which I liked better, the previous post where her head is turned or this one looking in our direction. She was so relaxed and gave us such a special intimate moment that I will likely never see again. I love the way she is embracing that cub with her paw.
Which do you like better? I have added the previous one in the comment bar.
Thank you for your visit and comments. They are very much appreciated.
means it has a larger influence on its environment than its abundance. It plays key role in maintaining the population of other animals in an ecological community.
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This is a merciless., unforgiving predator
It'd eat you alive if it could
But equally it's a beautiful and impressive bird of prey
Photogenic and slightly fabulous
Throughout the animal kingdom (and even in the things we create ourselves - e.g. a jet fighter)
How often is it that the things we are most attracted to are also the things that are the most lethal?
Photo taken Dec 5, 2019. This is a fierce robin-sized bird. From Audobon..."Uses its heavy hooked bill to kill its prey, although small birds attacked in flight may be forced to the ground first with the shrike's feet. Dead prey is sometimes impaled on a thorn and then eaten later."
Vulpes Vulpes - Red Fox
P1000142-1
ISO 200 1/160th @ f/5.6 Focal length 186.42mm (equivalent to
1041mm in 35mm format)
Small falcon with distinctive male plumage; gray head, rusty back, gray tail with broad black tip. Female is brownish above, barred on back, wings, and tail. Note rather pointed wingtips (unlike rounded wings of sparrowhawks and Shikra), and distinct dark spotting on breast. Fairly common in open and lightly wooded country, farmland, heathland; often seen over rough grassland beside roads and at airports. Perches on wires and posts, and typically hunts by hovering, at times fairly high overhead. Very similar to Lesser Kestrel. (Courtesy e.bird)
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