A Hard Lesson

[Steve_E]

It's not uncommon to see Herons being pushy and making territorial claims but until this day I had only witnessed charging and mainly bluffing. In the slideshow below is an outright attack by a larger adult Great Egret on a younger Great Egret that lasted no more than 30-40 seconds. At one point the larger bird was standing on the smaller bird's wing and was stomping it. The smaller bird didn't fight back but rather was doing everything it could to get out of there. In the end no harm came to the youngster outside of a bruised ego. A hard lesson learned about fishing too close to the competition.

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/?action=view&current=3dcaa136.pbw

Links to larger individual frames:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/egretfight1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/egretfight2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/egretfight3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/egretfight4.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/egretfight7.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/egretfight8.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/Nighthd/Bird%20Photography/egretfight9.jpg

[troypiggo]

Fantastic behavioural series. Spectacular action.

[duncan]

Absolutely breathtaking photography!!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup:

[lacad01]

Pretty interesting behaviour captured :)

[iceman]

Nice photos, very sharp!

[Liz]

.... fly, fly away quickly Little Egret :sadeyes: ... glad he wasnt injured.

Wonderful array of action images Steve :thumbsup:

[Steve_E]

Thanks very much everyone for the kind comments. This was one of those times when I was using all the burst the Mark II could give. A one-of-a-kind experience.

[StephenM]

Wow, what a great series Steve! Very well captured.

Cheers,
Stephen

[Steve_E]

Thank you Stephen.