On the Sunday birding trip I was happy to find a Little Auk feeding in brackish water just south of Bergen, Western Norway. This was a new species for the location, bringing the "auk-list" up to three. Great, I thought, and sat in the car waiting for it to come closer. The Little Auk did of course swim to the other side of the narrow bay, and started diving for food in shallow water - out of photo range. A first-year Grey Heron lifted 30 meters away, and landed just beside the Auk. The Little Auk dived, and the Heron followed. The Arctic guest did probably not understand how dangerous the situation was, before it was hit by a long sharp bill in the neck. The heron danced on the water-edge, while stabbing several times.
The auk was below the surface all the time, but on the predators fourth stab, it got struck and was thrown on land. The ten eimes larger heron stood still watching the tiny auk before taking two steps back. Swosh! Two direct hits toward the head of the victim proved this was not a game. The Little Auk was really stressed and tried to escape. The Heron was in full control, and stabbed it a dozen times before the prey became more calm.
The first half of the video below is rather over-exposed, but the brutality is well documented. Note how the Grey Heron makes one step backward before stabbing the Little Auk.
The auk was below the surface all the time, but on the predators fourth stab, it got struck and was thrown on land. The ten eimes larger heron stood still watching the tiny auk before taking two steps back. Swosh! Two direct hits toward the head of the victim proved this was not a game. The Little Auk was really stressed and tried to escape. The Heron was in full control, and stabbed it a dozen times before the prey became more calm.
The first half of the video below is rather over-exposed, but the brutality is well documented. Note how the Grey Heron makes one step backward before stabbing the Little Auk.
RSS Feed
