On this beautiful late-summer day, I wasn’t able to get out with my camera in the morning. But with the sun shining brightly and a light breeze continuing after lunch, I hopped in the car for some birding.
Mid-afternoon isn’t a time when many birds are out, and that was true on my first stop. At the Plainsboro Preserve, I saw two bluebirds and heard a single Northern flicker, nothing more on the trails.
Returning toward home, I stopped at the Millstone River Impoundment in Princeton. I spotted a green heron perched atop a short stump poking out of the water. I quick-walked over to the footbridge near the spot. To get the best light on the bird, I walked beyond it and turned back to shoot, taking a few frames and deciding to wait.
The heron turned in a couple of directions, intently peering into the water for something to eat.
Suddenly, it lurched forward. I started shooting.
On scene, I didn’t realize what I had.
Once I got home, I was excited to see the action captured in several frames.
Both images in this post are cropped. The one on top shows the heron, its crest rasised, grabbing a critter out of the water.
This second image reveals what that critter was, at least for a few seconds longer: a small frog.
The frog’s demise came quickly, and I suppose the heron’s appetite was sated for a while.
It was a privilege to watch that small slice of life unfold.
And yes, I feel sorry for the frog. 🦅
That shot’s a winner!