A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) struggles to hang onto an eel he has caught in a lagoon in South Carolina. Herons are incredibly fast with their stabbing beak. He caught the eel while wading in the shallows, and immediately moved onto the shore. While I watched, the eel briefly freed itself, but since he was already out of the water and on the beach, the heron quickly retrieved his catch. A moment later he flew off to enjoy his dinner in a quiet place well away from the pond.

To see more views of the heron and his prey, click HERE

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