This morning I went to Lake Jesup Park on Sanford Ave early before work. I got there just after sunrise, hoping to find an owl or other early riser. I didn’t, but I did find an American Bittern, King Rail and all four wrens we have this time of year (Sedge, Marsh, House, Carolina). There were no photographic moments, though, until I got into the car to leave. I drove by the boat ramp, and I saw a Pied-billed Grebe dive and come up with a crab in its mouth. Then he fished out the rest of the crab. This time he had the crab by the claw.
He was holding the crab in his bill by one of its legs, and he shook the crab until the leg came off.
This left him with just a crab leg in his mouth.
Usually when I photograph birds shaking their heads, the head turns out all blurry, but this time, I must have captured him right has he was beginning, and the head is still sharp.
He worked on the body with claw for quite some time. Eventually it dove, and when it came up, the crab was gone. I assume he swallowed it just before diving and I missed him swallowing it.
Scott Simmons
Scott Simmons, based in Florida, is a lover of nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Scott became interested in photography in 2001 when he was given his first SLR camera. When he acquired a telephoto lens, he became progressively more interested in birds and other wildlife. Scott enjoys learning about bird habitats and behavior, striving always to take images that are both beautiful and interpretive. Scott believes photography is a great vehicle to help others to appreciate the wonder for the stuff of earth.
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