© Wool Warriors / Barcroft USA

Holding on for dear life to their wooly steeds, these wild west kids are getting in on some rodeo action by taking part in America’s burgeoning ‘Mutton Bustin’ scene.

For full story and pictures:

Wearing an ice hockey helmet, face guard and a child sized protective vest, any young bronco under the age of six and weighing no more than 60 pounds can take part.

The aim of the game is to hold onto the 180 pound Cross Colombian ewes for up to six seconds as they are released from a gate into the 150 foot long and 50 ft wide run.

© Wool Warriors / Barcroft USA

Most fall off after a second or so, but for those who can ride out the rough and tumble a place awaits at the Mutton Bustin world championships being held this October in Fresno, California and a £3, 200 prize.

“I have been doing this with my company Wool Warriors for 25 years,” said rodeo entrepreneur Tommy G, who runs his sheep riding business out of Pueblo, Colorado.

“We own around 500 sheep and we take around 75 to around 14 fairs across the USA for the Mutton Bustin events.

“That way we ensure that they are rotated and properly rested and in no way over worked.

© Wool Warriors / Barcroft USA

“They are more than capable of carrying a small child on their back and the Houston Livestock Board gave us the once over for safety in 2008 and declared that skateboarding or roller blading was more dangerous for the kids than this.”

Originally starting as a filler during proper rodeo events in America, Tommy, 44, quickly so the potential for growth in riding sheep.

“The Mutton Bustin’ was done as a half time entertainment and always I would see 40 or 50 kids disappointed that they had missed their turn,” explained Tommy.

“So, by setting up Wool Warriors and having our own purpose built track and seating capabilities lets us entertain every child who wants to have a go.”

Charging around £8 for the pleasure of riding a put upon ewe, Tommy estimates that during their countrywide tours around 8,000 kids get a chance to act out as their rodeo heroes.

“Safety is the key,” said Tommy.

© Wool Warriors / Barcroft USA

“They are padded and their head is protected. No child is forced to do it if they change their mind.

“And in Fresno this year we will be hosting the Mutton Bustin world championship.

“The winners of the ‘Golden Buckle’, from each of the 14 previous fairs are invited to play off against each other.

“We are expecting 300 kids and their families to arrive and the first prize is a £3,200 saving bond for the winner.”

Words by James Nye

Storm-chaser tour operator Roger Hill © ROGER HILL/BARCROFT USA

If you’re bored of beach holidays and looking for something different this summer then you may want to think about a trip to America’s mid-west.

For full story and pictures:

Storm-chasing husband and wife team Roger and Caryn Hill take British punters on the hunt of their lives following deadly and destructive tornados.

Ploughing their way through America’s ‘Tornado Alley’, Roger and Caryn drive groups of up to 18 people at a time in three buses and charge up to £230 a day for a ten day tornado chase.

© ROGER HILL/BARCROFT USA

Offering adrenaline inducing ‘Silver Lining Tours’, Roger, 53 and Caryn, 50, estimate that they have taken almost 1500 people to observe raging tornados in the American mid-west since 2000.

Taking their paying guests to within 1/4 of a mile of some of the swirling 300 mph vertical wind funnels, the husband and wife team have documented awe inspiring incidents of turning twisters and powerful super-cell storms.

© ROGER HILL/BARCROFT USA

“We do around eight scheduled tours a year between April 15th and July 20th,” said Roger, who quit his consulting job in 1999 to chase storms full time.

“We pride ourselves on the highest rate of successful storm chases in the States for paying customers and we see around 25 percent of our business come from the United Kingdom.

© ROGER HILL / BARCROFT USA

“Obviously not living in an active tornado zone, the looks on British people’s faces when they see their first twister form out of the sky is wonderful.”

Having witnessed first hand the destructive power of tornados for the best part of 25 years, Roger speaks in respectful tones about the weather phenomenon.

“Each year tornados cause billions of pounds worth of damage and kill upwards of 100 people a year,” said Roger, who also worked for the US Air Force until 1995.

“In my lifetime I have seen 532 tornados and Caryn has seen 140.

Caryn Hill © ROGER HILL / BARCROFT USA

“Each one has its own character and force and each one is to be treated as the lethal and unpredictable storm that they are.”

Marrying childhood sweetheart Caryn in 2003, Roger and his new bride have been a storm chasing team for seven years.

“Caryn’s first tornado was on June 24th 2003 and she witnessed a tornado that razed Manchester, North Dakota to the ground,” said Roger.

“It has yet to be re-built. That was some way to get started storm chasing.”

© ROGER HILL / BARCROFT USA

It was in 1985 when Roger was stationed in Denver Colorado that he first caught the tornado bug.

“I witnessed six tornados on June 8th 1985 just a few miles from my home,” explained Roger.

“My obsession developed from there.

“I left the air force in 1995 and moved from San Antonio in Texas back to Denver and followed storms during the season.

“I had begun shooting the storms and in 1998, the Weather Channel started to purchase my footage.

© ROGER HILL / BARCROFT USA

“I quit my job to become a full time storm chaser in 1999 and then in 2000 set up Silver Lining Tours.”

Getting so close to the tornados that he can hear their roar and see debris flying inside them, Roger likes to give his customer the full twister experience.

“They can move at up to 60 mph and they turn at up to 300 mph,” said Roger.

“They can be over one mile wide and they can destroy entire towns and uproot entire villages.

“On one occasion one tornado has shifted direction so rapidly that it has cut right between two of our three buses on the road.

“That was a scary experience.”

Words by James Nye

© NICK GEORGIOU / BARCROFT USA

Popping up in different locations around New York urban artist Nick Georgiou finds altogether new uses for discarded newspapers.

For full story and pictures:

Instead of wrapping up his fish and chips in the raggedy old daily papers, Nick, 30, from Queens, New York, has been making statements about the newspaper industry for the last four years.

Having exhibited his works in London’s hip Shoreditch and currently working on his own gallery in Tuscon, Arizona, Nick’s eclectic work is in high demand, especially amongst media types keen on irony.

© NICK GEORGIOU / BARCROFT USA

Collecting his newspapers from the streets and recycling bins of the Big Apple, Nick’s street paper art has sold for over £100 and can take him anywhere over two days to complete.

“I wanted to react to the digital age through the medium of paper,” said Nick, who has taught his art at the University of Arizona.

“We now have iPad’s and iPhone and laptops and a lot of our information is digested through computer screens.

© NICK GEORGIOU / BARCROFT USA

“We are no longer using newspapers, or paper for that matter.

“I wanted to make a statement about the fact that paper will be just another artefact of the 21st century before too long.”

Collecting his newspapers from recycling bins and even off the street, Nick began his recycled paper art four years ago.

Nick Georgiou wearing one of his works © NICK GEORGIOU / BARCROFT USA

“I love all types of newspaper, from the New York Post to the pink shades of the Financial Times, they all provide different hues to my work,” said Nick.

‘The works are not as easy as they look to put together.

“They need cutting with craft knives, gluing and sculpting.

© NICK GEORGIOU / BARCROFT USA

“Each one can take days to produce to my satisfaction.”

Talking about his art’s unusual urban locations and feel, Nick explains the publics fascination with similar artists such as Banksy.

“We all experience an alienation some of the time,” said Nick.

“So instead of looking inside a gallery at work, we now find ourselves looking out and on the street.

“That is an important part of my work.”

Words by James Nye

Super-salmon with non-modified sibling © AQUA BOUNTY/ BARCROFT USA

A super-salmon designed to grow at twice the normal rate is on the brink of becoming the first genetically modified (GM) animal to be approved for human consumption.

For full story and pictures:

The fish, named as the AquAdvantage salmon, contains added genetic material to increase growth hormones.
The precocious GM fish can grow to the full size of up to 30 pounds (13.6 kg) in half the natural time.

© AQUA BOUNTY / BARCROFT USA

While a normal Atlantic salmon takes three years to farm the AquAdvantage would be ready for the plate in just 18 months.
Officials at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are still considering whether the GM beast is harmless to eat and safe for the environment.

The fish grow and live in tanks © AQUA BOUNTY / BARCROFT USA

The fast growing fish has been reared by Massachusetts company AquaBounty who hope to have FDA approval in the next few months.
Ronald Stotish, chief executive of AquaBounty, which developed the fish, said it would not mean giant specimens on the fish counter.

Lab preparation © AQUA BOUNTY / BARCROFT USA

“You don’t get salmon the size of the Hindenburg,” he said. “You get to those target weights in a shorter time.”
The GM salmon will be grown in fish farms but will be bred sterile to prevent them from getting into the wild and breeding with natural salmon populations.

Incubator tubes © AQUA BOUNTY / BARCROFT USA

Authorities are discussing whether the fish should be approved for importation into the EU.
Peter Melchett, policy director of the U.K. Soil Association said: “Once you have bombarded an animal with other genes, the DNA is unstable, and there is no guarantee these fish will remain sterile. It poses far too great a risk to wild salmon,” he said.

© AQUA BOUNTY / BARCROFT USA

“A fish that grows so quickly is likely to lose some of the nutritional benefits. There is no such thing as a free salmon lunch, and we will pay the price.”

Words by James Nye

700 participants from an all black school in Chicago formed this image of President Obama © WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

Inspired by the famous Nazca Lines of Peru, these incredible artworks are created using a lot of latex paint and lots of people.

For full story and pictures:

Environmental artist Daniel Dancer has spent the last ten years travelling the world creating over 100 examples of his ‘Art of the Sky’ human projects.

Using schoolchildren, their parents and teachers to act as the human components, Daniel has used up 4,000 people for his artwork at one time.

© WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

Photographed from cranes and a hot air balloon, Daniel’s work has included stunning bald eagles made up 1400 people and a Barack Obama from 2008 made up of 900 people.

“I have been involved in environmental photography and artistry all my adult life,” said Oregon resident Daniel, 56.

© WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

“At the turn of the century I was inspired by the Kansas field artist Stan Herd and the Peruvian Nazca lines to try to create my own artistry using painting, but most importantly people.

“So I gathered 800 or so schoolchildren here in Oregon together and we created a giant salmon on the ground.”

The view on the ground of participants in the Planet Aspen image on April 13, 2010 in Aspen, Colorado © WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

Etching his subject out in the ground using latex paint and tractors to dig up earth, Daniel then utilities Sky Captains to help him co-ordinate his art.

“I ask parents and student council members to help choreograph the events,” said Daniel.

© WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

“Everyone knows where they are supposed to be standing and everyone knows that their tops must match the patch of paint that they are standing on.

“Then everyone lies down on their hands and knees, exposed their back so that the largest amount of colour is given off.”

Daniel ready to go up in his crane © WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

Ascending in a crane to take the pictures, Daniel only does one take, as he does not believe in rehearsals.

“I have a few principles which my art is supposed to convey,” explained Daniel.

© WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

“I want the art to be a collaborative interaction so that the participants understand what they are part of.

“This could be to feel the plight of the bald eagle or to understand how important Barack Obama is.

© WWW.ARTFORTHESKY.COM / BARCROFT MEDIA

“I hope most of all that people enjoy the visual spectacle.”

Daniel is hoping to bring his work to the UK in the future.

“I haven’t taken my art to the UK yet, though I have always wanted to do an Art For the Sky response to the crop circles,” he said.

Words by James Nye

© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / BARCROFT MEDIA LTD

Startling pictures show the moment a tiny prairie dog found itself in an unlikely showdown with a colossal bison nearly 850 times its own weight.

For full story and pictures:

One image shows the cheeky burrowing rodent seemingly locked in a staring battle with its gigantic opponent.
Black-tailed prairie dogs are just 12-16 inches long and weight between one and three pounds.

American Bison, also called American Buffalo, can tower at six feet six inches high, 10 feet long, and can weigh a staggering 2,500 pounds.

© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / BARCROFT MEDIA LTD

But despite being shockingly smaller than its huge hairy nemesis, the plucky prairie dog seemed happy to stand its ground.
The odd duo were pictured squaring up at a prairie dog colony – known as a ‘town’ – in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma.
Photography partners David Roberts, who works in the Herpetology and Graphics departments of the the Dallas Zoo, and David Schleser, a former dentist and former curator of the Dallas Aquarium, venture out into the wilderness on biology and photography projects.

© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / BARCROFT MEDIA LTD

Both from Texas, they lead ecotourism expeditions to places like the Peruvian Amazon with their photographs being used in several books, field guides, and other publications.
Roberts said: “Bison often visit Prairie Dog towns because they excavate large amounts of soil to the surface.
“Bison like to roll in the dust because the dirt helps rid them of parasites, and it just feels good.
“It makes for good opportunities to observe the two species together and sometimes running into each other, like in our photo.”

Words by Liam Miller

"Holy hooves Batman!" © BARCROFT USA

These horses bring new meaning to the word dressage, as they parade around in their Harry Potter and Batman and Robin themed costumes.

For full story and pictures:

Taking equestrian fashion to hilarious new levels, a company based in Costa Rica, Horse Tailor, offers costumes for fancy fillies as diverse as Leprechauns and Transformers.

They estimate that they have sold over 10,000 individual customised suits since they went into business in 2002 and claim to have clients from the USA to as far away as Australia.

Harry Potter - or is it? © BARCROFT USA

Requesting that the customer provides exact measurements of the horse models nose, neck girth, ear size, abdomen circumference and even hoof size, the cheapest fancy dress is £80 and the most expensive is £120.

“I am originally Italian and moved to Costa Rica to live with my family over 20 years ago,” said The Horse Tailor founder and creator, Donatella Caffaz, 56.

Robots in disguise © BARCROFT USA

“We started off as a bespoke horse accessory service which shipped around the world.   “However, in 1997 someone sent us a request to create a witches outfit for their horse and that got us thinking.

“However, it wasn’t until 2002 that we went online and the response since then has been phenomenal.”

An equine Pink Panther © BARCROFT USA

With the UK, The USA and Australia their biggest markets, The Horse Tailor takes up to five days to create each individual costume.

In some cases the rider is provided with an outfit, like in the case of their hilarious Cowardly Lion and Dorothy set inspired by the Wizard of Oz.

Elf pony © BARCROFT USA

“We ask everyone to supply us with the measurements of their horse and the rider,” said Donatella.

“This provides us with the elements we need to send back a customised fancy dress costume for our horses and owner.

Off to see the Wizard © BARCROFT USA

“The largest majority of our products go to Texas where there is still that large cowboy culture.”

Claiming the Harry Potter and Transformer outfits to be their most popular, the fashions of The Horse Tailor fly off the shelves around Halloween.

Dreaming of Camelot © BARCROFT USA

“Americans are really into that festival and that is our busiest time of year,” explained Donatella.

“We find that people just want to dress up their horse and have some fun.”

Words by James Nye

© ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

These three stunning sportswomen have normal careers by day, but in their spare time they love throwing themselves down white water rapids and huge waterfalls.

For full story and pictures:

© ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

Brave kayakers Christie Glissmeyer, 31, Kate Wagner, 29, and Melissa DeCarlo, 30, take life to the limit with their daring antics down some of America’s fastest and most dangerous rivers.

Together they form ladies’ adventure team Femme 45 and recruit other daredevil women who want more excitement from their lives.

Kate on a Washington rapid © ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

Christie, a student, currently holds the women’s kayaking world waterfall record after she plummeted 82 feet off Metlako Falls at Eagle Creek, Oregon.

The part-time bar worker from Oregon, USA, said: “It was about double the size of any waterfall I had previously run.

Christie Glissmeyer © ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

“The horizon line was very intimidating and it looked like the river was dropping off the face of the earth.

“It took a lot of concentration to keep my nerves under control so that I wouldn’t make a mistake.

“As I paddled off the waterfall and my landing looked so far away.

“I accelerated to a much faster speed than I have ever experienced in a kayak and it was scary and amazing to be falling with the water at that rate.

© ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

“My kayak was vertical in the air and I tucked forward against it to protect myself from the impact at the bottom of the waterfall.

“But halfway down I was enveloped by the veil of water around me and the landing was surprisingly soft.  It was a very exciting day.”

The incredible feat added to Christie’s already impressive repertoire of extreme sports trophies collected around the world.

In 2009 and 2008 she was undefeated in the Western Whitewater Championship racing series, Western U.S.A.

© ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

In 2008 she was Women’s Champion of the Himalayan Whitewater Festival in Nepal, and in 2007 she scooped first place in the Teva Extreme Games, Italy.

And it’s not just Christie that’s living her life away from work on a knifedge edge.

Neither Kate, a mental health therapist, or Melissa, a certified public accountant, are strangers to danger.

Melissa in action © ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

Kate, also from Oregon, has thrown herself over a 48 foot drop at Celestial Falls on the White River in her home state, while Melissa can often be seen fighting against a super-aggressive torrent of raging whitewater.

And the dangers they face is in stark contrast to their everyday lives at work.

Melissa, from Vancouver, USA, said: “A typical day of work for me is indoors and on a computer, crunching numbers.

“Sometimes if I’m stressed about work, I find myself craving a trip to the river.

“Lucky for us, we live in an area where we can paddle basically anytime we want. It’s a case of leaving the office and hitting the rivers.”

Melissa DeCarlo © ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

Kate said:   ”We live so close to our favourite runs that we can usually fit in a run before or after work.

“It is not unusual for us to be on the water most days of the week. We have created lifestyles that work for us and allow us to spend a lot of time doing what we love.”

Kate Wagner © ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

Christie added: “I like to keep a good balance between working hard and playing hard.

“A typical day for me is to spend half of the day studying or working and half of the day outside paddling, hiking or snowboarding.”

The girls draw attention to themselves – and the interest of other extreme girls – through social networking site Facebook.

© ERIK BOOMER / BARCROFT MEDIA

Christie said: “There are three of us in the core group, but we like to include the talented ladies we meet along the way.

“We are a posse of female paddlers having some wild adventures in whitewater.

We’ve recently started to bring cameras along to document our experiences.  The name Femme 45 comes from our signature 45 second video teasers.”

The inspiring women, who are not doing it just for themselves, are also putting their skills forward to help the needy.

© ERIK BOOMER

Non-profit organisation First Descents provides week long kayaking camps for young adults with cancer.

All three of the girls are actively involved with volunteering at some of the camps.

Christie is volunteering as a safety boater, Kate is volunteering as a photographer, and Melissa is volunteering as a camp counsellor.

Words by  Liam Miller

© TERRA VIVOS / BARCROFT USA

An American-based company is offering shares in a bunker designed to withstand nuclear blasts, a cataclysmic solar flare or a global disease pandemic.

For full story and pictures: California based Terra Vivos is offering space in their 30 foot deep nuclear bunker for up to 200 people for £32,000 a berth.

Equipped with enough freeze dried food and alcohol for one year, the Terra Vivos site is 30 feet underground and construction on the Star Trek style interior will begin in June of this year.

© TERRA VIVOS / BARCROFT USA

Trading on the rising anxiety of 2012 end-of-the-world conspiracy theories, Terra Vivos claims to have enough interest to fill the first bunker in the town of Barstow between Los Angeles and Las Vegas four times over.

So much so, that the company is planning on expanding their operation to 20 other sites across the United States, which will be able to hold 4,000 people in case the world should end.

“We are currently retro fitting an American military bunker and full scale construction will begin in June,” said Robert K. Vicino Managing Director of Terra Vivos.

“We have a 19 acre, £13 million, site which in total contains 20,000 square feet underground.

“Terra Vivos will construct a luxury setting capable of comfortably housing 200 people because in this world you never know what is going to happen.”

© TERRA VIVOS / BARCROFT USA

Divided up, the Barstow bunker will give each person on average 100 square foot of space with enough food, water and entertainment to last for one year.

“There is a fresh water well 1000 feet below the bunker and in addition we will install several 20,000 gallon water tanks,” said Robert, 54.

“There will be enough liquid gas to power our generators for the whole twelve months and we will even have enough wine, beer and spirits to last us in rations for that year too.”

In the event of a global apocalypse, members of Terra Vivos who have paid the £32,000 membership fee will have to rush on their own to the bunker in time for the 3,000 lbs, one foot thick steel blast doors to close.

“We hope to make the cut off point three days after a global cataclysm is understood to be occurring,” said Robert.

“We know that might not be realistic, but we base that number on the theory that the world is only three days from disaster.

“People generally only have three days worth of food in their homes, so we anticipate anarchy once that fourth day comes.”

Cross section of one of the ten living quarters spokes © TERRA VIVOS / BARCROFT USA

Once inside the luxurious underground bunker that will be their home for the next 365 days, the occupants of the Vivos bunker will have a large array of amenities on offer.

“There will be a fully stocked library for our guests and a massive selection of DVDs to watch,” said Robert.

“The air is purified for any radiation or diseased spores so in essence the place in hermetically sealed.

“In the centre will be a community area to mingle, because we feel that the most important part of the surviving is to mix with others too.”

For your £32,000 you will get a berth in one bunk bed and each room contains four beds.

A model of level one of two circular living quarters © TERRA VIVOS / BARCROFT USA

“We have found that some of our largest customers are mothers who book out the full four bed rooms for themselves and their children,” said Robert.

“We realise there may be issues if people do not get along, so in that case we hope that people will swap their beds between each other.”

Taking 128 cubic feet of freeze dried food with them into their bunker, the residents of Terra Vivos will be able to choose from a menu of Lasagna to even curry.

“The freeze dried food is edible and delicious and I myself have eaten it,” said Robert.

“The food when in storage will be eight foot height, ten foot wide and 200 foot long in their cardboard packaging.

“We could bring more, but that would lessen the living space and we anticipate most disasters to have dissipated after one year anyway.”

© TERRA VIVOS / BARCROFT USA

In addition to the blast doors, the resident will be able to defend themselves with a sizeable array of weaponry.

Robert was unwilling to discuss the types of guns or  how many munitions will be kept, but was not coy in talking up the defensive capabilities of Terra Vivos.

“We will have remote cameras and I must be clear that even if someone got into the compound, they would not be able to make it off if we saw them on the cameras,” explained Robert.

Applications for membership have come from medical professionals, to ex-military and Robert is adamant that a cross section of society is present in the bunker.

“There will be no staff so to speak, so it is important that we have plumbers, doctors, veterans and administrators to help make the group function effectively,” said Robert.

“Vivos mean ‘The Living’ in Spanish and that is what we will be, so we will have to work together.”

With their website showing a countdown to December 21 2012, Robert admits that they need to move quickly.

“Our Barstow site will be completed by the turn of 2012 and we will definitely be full by then,” said Robert.

“I myself am booked in and even though I don’t ever want to use my membership, I think it is foolish not to be prepared.”

Words by James Nye

© RICK LEWIS/ BARCROFT USA

Now there’s a mouthful!

For full words and pictures:

These extraordinary pictures of a heron devouring a helpless gopher whole are nothing new for the residents of Arrowhead Marsh in southern California.

That is because this particular heron has become known locally for its unusual choice of dinner, adding a diet of squirrels and small rodents to its more traditional fish supper.

© RICK LEWIS/ BARCROFT USA

Captured in two separate picture incidents three years apart, the same heron is seen indulging its un-fussy approach to food.

The most recent photograph of the carnivorous heron was snapped on May 1st of this year, clearly shows the look of absolute horror on the face of the poor gopher as it realises it is a goner.

“This Great Blue Heron is well known in the Almeida area around Arrowhead Marsh as a ruthless hunter,” said Rick Lewis, 55, the photographer who captured the amazing pictures.

“I usually go down there to photograph the rare California Clapper Rail birds, but every now and then I see this heron in action.

“The first time I saw it happen in 2007 I mentioned it to a local and she shrugged her shoulders as if to say it happens all the time.”

Over the course of the past three years, Rick estimates he has seen the heron eat around 40 squirrels and gophers and its appetite shows no sign of dimming down.

“In these photos the heron stalks it prey like it would a fish, approaching slowly until it is able to strike,” said Rick.

“The speed at which it darts down is incredible and now I don’t necessarily expect it to re-emerged with a fish on its beak, but pretty much anything that lives in the marshes.”

© RICK LEWIS/ BARCROFT USA

So fast is this particular heron with its lightning speed, that Rick claims that sometimes he has seen the heron literally impale its prey on its beak.

“I have seen it stab its beak straight through a squirrel before,” said Rick.

“It had to open its beak and rip open the squirrel just to get it down its beak.

“But in the two cases I photographed, the heron picked up the gopher, gave it a violent couple of shakes and then either swallowed it in one or flew off to eat its meal elsewhere.”

Talking about the terrified look on the face of the gopher he photographed before it was devoured, Rick is quite plain.

“That gopher was making a hell of a noise before it was flown off to become that heron’s dinner,” said Rick.

“It was a great shot, as was the first time I witnessed it three years ago.

“That is some bird.”

Words by James Nye.