The rivers have dropped so I took a hike yesterday around the river bar at
Bob Heirman wildlife area. I snuck across the top of the bar through the
vegetation and found myself in a nice position to watch a Great Blue Heron
at close range. After fishing for several minutes the heron nabbed what
looked like a bullhead type fish, but maybe 6 inches long? The fish had
round pectorals and was brown with darker spots and a wide mouth. The Heron
grabbed it by the tail and whacked it several times on the ground then spent
a full 15 minutes trying to swallow the thing. It kept gagging, even making
a sort of gurgling noise as it struggled to swallow this fish. After 17
minutes, of trying it dropped the fish and walked slowly downstream. I was
surprised that it did not use its beak to poke at the fish and break it up
into smaller pieces. Come to think of it, I could not recall ever seeing a
GBH do this so perhaps they don't.

Also got a nice look at a river otter than came out of the water and went
trundling along the very path I had just moved off. I followed it but my
quiet stalking skills do not yet match the senses of an otter.

Rob Sandelin
South Snohomish County at the headwaters of Ricci Creek
Sky Valley Environments <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous at msn.com