John Holmes

4th Nov 2010  MPNR

800mm + ID MKIV

( Not sure of snake ID: could be Elaphe radiata- Copperhead Rat snake

tsheunglai

Dear John

Did the heron swallow the snake whole? If it did how, swinging it up so that the head swallowed first?

Thanks for your little but interesting report.

S L Tai

ajohn

I think the snake looks like a Mangrove Water Snake (Enhydris bennettii) which is fairly common at Mai Po (apparently - I've never seen one!). Note the dark upperside and darkish underside with pale whitish stripe down the sides.

Mr Tai, herons invariably eat their prey whole (they do not have suitable bill/feet for breaking it into pieces). It is usually swallowed head-first, and I think it is likely to have been the same for this individual.

Nice observation John - it's always good to see some interesting behaviour such as this.

John Holmes

Mr Tai,

John A is quite right, the snake was swallowed head first and whole.  

However, the Heron could not swallow the struggling snake at the first attempt and regurgitated it, which is when the photo was taken.  Later the Heron swallowed it a second time, and the snake did not re-appear !

John H.