At first when I saw the falcon far away, it looked like some kind of cloth that it had.
But as it came closer high up ((photo above), I saw the sun dried skins coming off a live wriggling snake.
Squamates periodically engage in moulting, as their skin is scaly. The most familiar example of moulting in such reptiles is when snakes "shed their skin". This is usually achieved by the snake rubbing its head against a hard object, such as a rock (or between two rocks) or piece of wood, causing the already stretched skin to split.
Do you know that most animals and birds molt? You can see a range of animals and others molting at the safe link above.
Our river has many rocky beds, and I presume that the falcon grabbed the snake that was molting between the rocks.
If you haven't had a look at the source link, then a quick explanation would be that snakes outgrow their skins, and then they start to discard the old skin.
Oh, and if you haven't read the post then you would not know what was going on. :)
All that I can say is that I was mightily chuffed with nature giving me this photographic opportunity.
Look who was watching the falcon with me. A little female sunbird sitting close to me on our front garden fence. I just hope that she will not get an idea to try and catch a molting snake. :D
Now before you go, please have a look at the source link, as it is very educational, and even if you have a cat or a dog, they also moult.
In biology, moulting (British English), or molting (American English), also known as sloughing, shedding, or in many invertebrates, ecdysis, is a process by which an animal casts off parts of its body to serve some beneficial purpose, either at specific times of the year, or at specific points in its life cycle.
In some countries, flocks of commercial layer hens are force-moulted to reinvigorate egg-laying. This usually involves complete withdrawal of their food and sometimes water for 7–14 days or up to 28 days under experimental conditions, which presumably reflect standard farming practice in some countries. This causes a body weight loss of 25 to 35%, which stimulates the hen to lose her feathers, but also reinvigorates egg-production.
Molting is a natural occurrence, and I think humans can also molt when they exfoliate to get rid of dry skins. But nothing like they do in the animal world. To me, molting just sounds like putting on a new suit of clothes or feathers or skin. We have seen it many times, and that poor snake that the falcon caught will not live to wear his new suit. I feel sorry for the snake, but the falcon might have some babies to feed.
Just the way of nature to look after its residents.
Such is life.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the story.
Photos by Zac Smith: All-Rights-Reserved.
Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.
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