When a prey turned into a predator!

[Dileep Anthikad]

Had to shoot against the sun as it was impossible to get to the other side of this rare action.

Camera settings: Nikon D300 & 500mm f/4 VR + TC14E, f/7.1, 1/500, ISO-400 and Hand-held.

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Amazing moment captured, Dileep! Very nicely done. The shadowed side has come out fairly well-exposed, did you dial any +ve EC? The eye contact with both the animals is lovely. Looks like the snake had a tight coil round the heron's neck, what happened afterwards?
What snake is it? Olive Keelback?
TFS

[Atul Sinai]

Wow! What a shot Dileep. Nice details and eye contact. Did the prey manage to overhaul the predator?

TFS

Regards,
Atul

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Lovely and a rare sight. well exposed and nice details...what happened??? This juv purple heron mustve learnt its lesson on handling snakes...
TFS
Roopak

[Saktipada Panigrahi]

Nature's Drama Unfolded, you are the fortunate Witness.Simply amazing.Looking at the snake,its scales resemble Olive Keelback watersnake,but the head appears bigger,may be due to its exerting pressure to strangulate.If it is a water keelback,Heron will win.SaktiWild

[Sabyasachi Patra]

A fine natural history moment. Am wondering how the snake could climb up the neck without the purple heron piercing it. Where was this captured? Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Mrudul Godbole]

Very rare moment captured. Good details and it is nice that you got the eye contact for both. How long did you witness this incident? Awaiting to know what happened in the end. Thanks for sharing.

[Chitrita Chatterjee]

brilliant...... wonderful image..congrats. thanks for sharing.

[Dileep Anthikad]

Dear all,

It was found in the marshy paddy fields of Kodali, Thrissur (Kerala).

The struggle between the Heron & Watersnake went on for a while, and at one stage the snake almost strangled the Heron to death with further coils (it took place behind the grass).

But at the end Heron's will prevailed. It managed to throw the snake into the ground, smash it with legs further and picked it up.

Kind regards,
Dileep

[Saktipada Panigrahi]

Excuse me Dileep bhai,I forgot to write 'Thank you for sharing' in my comments.SaktiWild

[Bhargava Srivari]

The heron seems pretty inexperienced by how the snake has coiled around the neck of the bird.

Fine image and a fine moment.

tfs

[Dr. Kalpamoi Kakati]

Excellent capture.It is really terrifying to see the Heron being coiled like this.Have you captured the subsequent actions? if so,kindly share those as well.Thanks for sharing.

[Rajan Kanagasabai]

Wow. It is moment's like these, that make wildlife photography a rewarding and an inspiring hobby. Wonderful composition, well exposed and great details with the light against you. Thanks for sharing.

regards
Rajan