Mortal Combat; heron vs heron(img hvy)

[NorthernFocus]

Here's another set of documentary shots of a fight this time between two great blue herons.

Great blue herons are very aggressive toward one another. One reason they are almost always seen fishing alone is because they won't tolerate the presence of another bird. These two birds were initially 50m or so away from each other. They began posturing and the bird on the left in the first shot (we'll call him Lefty) began to walk slowly toward the bird on the right (aka Righty). Typically when this happens one of the birds will defer and abandon the fishing spot without any physical conflict. Not this time.

1) Pre-fight posturing. This is after Lefty strutted all the way down the river bank from 50m away. Notice both birds are trying to look as large as possible with necks at full extension, beaks pointed to the sky, wings held slightly away from the body, and feathers fluffed up.



2) The posturing is finished. Lefty attacks by leaping into the air. Righty ducks and looks to be trying to escape the attack.



3) Lefty seems to have gained the advantage and Righty is headed for the exit.



4) But wait, Righty counters the attack.



5) Righty clamps his beak around Lefty's throat.



6) Lefty counters by grabbing Righty by the throat also.



7) Locked in a seeming death grip on each other they fall to the ground.



8) Miraculously no one's neck is broken. But Lefty decides this wasn't such a great idea and breaks off the attack.



9) He scoots out and leaves Righty in possession of the fishing hole.

[Urbanflyer]

wonderful series! Thanks!

[ccphoto]

I think it is a wonderful series but also think the overly darkened BG hurts rather than promotes the overall effect.

[Wavelength]

It is as if Sun spotlighted your venture

Great series....

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Craigie]

A nice series, Dan. #3 is my fav, I like how the light hits the head and tips of the wings of the top Heron.

[madcrow]

On the wild side, images, story, captured and well told.

[IzzieK]

Very nice captures and story here...I like it. Lefty seems worse for wear. The sunlight made it more so.

[Dave Humphries]

Interesting series Dan, as well shot as anyone could manage under the circumstances.

I'm wondering what the time difference was between shot 2) and shot 9)?
Not so long, I suspect.

Cheers, Dave

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for commenting, everyone. Glad you enjoyed the series.

Interesting series Dan, as well shot as anyone could manage under the circumstances.

I'm wondering what the time difference was between shot 2) and shot 9)?...

Yes, Dave, the birds were darned inconsiderate in their choice of battle ground. Half in, half out of the shade and backlit. Though the still photos make is seem like a drawn out, epic struggle, from shot 2 to 9 was 3.2 seconds of real time. Watching these incidents with the naked eye simply appears like a momentary flutter if wings and one bird flying away.