[Rixpx]

I encountered a Great Blue Heron struggling to eat a large fish he caught. After about 15 minutes, he gave up, dropped the fish and flew off. The fish still had a bad day.

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[NorthernFocus]

Wow. Yeah the bird was thinking big. Interesting looking fish. Looks like a small sturgeon but for the color. Was this in FLA?

 

[Rixpx]

Wow. Yeah the bird was thinking big. Interesting looking fish. Looks like a small sturgeon but for the color. Was this in FLA?

This was in Corkscrew Swamp Rookery in Florida. I’m not sure what the fish is either. Catfish? Sucker? Carp? Maybe one of the forum members will enlighten us.

 

[JoelKlein]

Very interesting!
Looks like a Catfish

 

[DripDryMcFleye]

Fish looks like a Plecostomus of one variety or another.

 

[Charles Loy]

It does not look like any catfish I have seen, and I've seen plenty. Maybe a different variety

 

[NorthernFocus]

Fish looks like a Plecostomus of one variety or another.

That's it. AKA suckermouth catfish. Thanks. Learned something.

 

[RecalcitrantRon]

Fish looks like a Plecostomus of one variety or another.

That’s what I was thinking too. Used to have one in the home aquarium. I’ve been surprised by what these birds can choke down but I guess this one was just too much.

 

[JAJohnson]

Some other critter got a free tasty meal. That catfish didn’t go to waste.

 

[ChrisSinSeattle]

Great capture and fun for you, with BH when they penetrate their beck you never know what their going to come up with

Chris S.

 

[Ralph]

I encountered a Great Blue Heron struggling to eat a large fish he caught. After about 15 minutes, he gave up, dropped the fish and flew off. The fish still had a bad day.View attachment 107433View attachment 107432View attachment 107434View attachment 107435

I agree. It looks like a Plecostomus. Looks like someone emptied their aquarium.

 

[Whiskeyman]

I agree. It looks like a Plecostomus. Looks like someone emptied their aquarium.

Those invasive fish are all over Central and South Florida now. And causing a lot of problems for the ecosystem. Sadly, I don't believe that genie, nor any of the others now established in Florida, are ever going back into the bottle!

 

[Woodyg3]

Plecos have really nasty spines in their fins, not an easy fish to swallow and probably best left for other fish and birds to nibble on. Cool pictures!

 

[Louis champan]

Super action shots, always fun to see what a heron will do when they caught something that large.

 

[Rixpx]

Plecos have really nasty spines in their fins, not an easy fish to swallow and probably best left for other fish and birds to nibble on. Cool pictures!

Thanks. This photo trip was uneventful until we saw this on our way back. Right place, right time

 

[thats_wildlife]

Although it looks like a heavy crop I can feel that the situation must be very impressive for you, And must have been for me as well....
You were there in the right moment....
Congrats
Mike from thats_wildlife

 

[ssheipel]

Wow. Yeah the bird was thinking big. Interesting looking fish. Looks like a small sturgeon but for the color. Was this in FLA?

Looks like a Plecostomus (types are very popular in fresh water aquariums).

 

[ssheipel]

Nice capture!