Predatory Egret Harassed By Protective Moorhen…
The egret stood facing a heron, their necks stretched
In a silent stand-off and both seemingly froze.
Soon though it turned with a white, flouncy retreat
And stepped along the pool’s edge, close to green reeds.
A disturbed and concerned moorhen soon despatched
Her chicks into hiding, wildly flapping its wings and rose
From the water in defiance of the predator’s imminent threat
But the solitary egret would not deny its hunger’s needs…
It suddenly lunged into the shallows with barely a glance
And predated a struggling water vole, swinging it around,
Whilst the moorhen attacked it again and both reared
Up, wings wide. The harassed egret dipped its prey into the dark
Swirling water, then juggled it with an awkward prancing dance,
As the moorhens scattered hurriedly with barely a sound.
Finally the egret swallowed the vole whole, which quickly appeared
As a swelling in the egret’s long neck, sickening and stark…
Pete Ray
16th June 2024…
This scenario happened with such suddenness but clearly the moorhen feared for its chicks, likely not realising that they were safe…
Brave actions though…
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.