This brave crab fought with all it had, despite the massive size difference between him and the big bird trying to eat him.
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28-year-old Peter Martin, during a visit to Witsand in the Western Cape, captured this incredible sighting on camera. Self-employed photographer and nature enthusiast Peter shared the story and footage with LatestSightings.com.
Peter was walking along the beach in Witsand, admiring the beauty of the Western Cape coastline, when he spotted a couple of white-fronted plovers near the water’s edge. “They were surprisingly calm in my presence, allowing me to get close enough for a great shot. So, I lay on my belly, aiming to photograph them at their eye level, which gives a unique perspective.”
As he was focusing his lens, one of the plovers spotted a small crab. The crab, despite its size, was determined to defend itself. He watched as the plover tried to make a meal out of the little crab. It cautiously approached the crab, then, in one quick motion, pecked at it, skillfully avoiding the crab’s pincers.
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The most intriguing part was how the plover strategically targeted the crab’s pincers. It seemed like a calculated move; the bird broke off the pincers one by one with lightning-fast strikes. With the crab’s main defence mechanism gone, the plover seized its opportunity. With one last strike, it grabbed the crab and swallowed it whole.
White-fronted plovers are small, interesting birds found along the coastlines of southern Africa. These birds are known for their varied diet, which mainly consists of small insects, crustaceans like crabs, and sometimes even small fish. They use their sharp eyesight to find food on the beach and in shallow waters. White-fronted plovers are quite clever and quick, darting around to catch their food, making them fun to watch while they’re busy searching for their next meal.
