Heron's dinner
I was heading back home from a casual walk along the paddy fields one evening. Then, in a paddy field not too far, I spotted a Purple Heron. Now, sun light was fading fast, and I've seen quite a many purple herons before. So I wasn't particularly interested to take any pics. I'd rather let the heron be and go on my merry way, until I noticed that it had a small snake in it's beak!
This isn't a common sight, at least not for me! Off I go towards the heron. I had to be careful not to scare away the heron, else it just might drop its meal and fly away. So, I did what I have practiced a hundred times before. Take a few slow steps towards the heron, stand still and observe the bird. If it doesn't appear to be bothered with my presence, I would click a pic or two. Then after a while, I would take another few steps and repeat the whole process till I have a good proximity to take clear shots.
Heron was trying its best to align the snake such that it could swallow it easily. Snake wanted nothing of it.
I think it was a Checkered Keelback snake, which is found in the shallow waters of paddy fields. My 400mm lens couldn't get a clear shot of snake.The struggle went on for a while, with no easy solution at sight.
The whole scene was rather bloody.
There were people working in nearby paddy fields, who I would guess were oblivious to the life and death drama unfolding right next to them.
Eventually, with one fine swing of the beak, heron got the snake where it wanted it to be. Then the slow and gut wrenching act of swallowing the snake started.
With the snake in its tummy, heron walked away. I turned and headed back home. Just another evening here in Gundmi.