One less for the kawau paka

Back in February I happened upon a kawau paka (Little Pied Shag) making hard work of swallowing a fish caught in Lake Pupuke. It remains unclear to me whether the bird managed to swallow its catch, as it went below the water with most of the fish still out of its bill, and emerged shortly afterwards without any fish to be seen.

This evening as I left the unit on my way home, I noticed a fisherman at the end of the small jetty out into Lake Pupuke. I thought he made a good photo against the ruffled surface of the lake, from the brisk and chill wind. I took a second photo for insurance purposes, and it was on looking at that one that I realised that he had denied the birds one fish.

This is the first photo, and shows the fish somewhat more clearly, and I like the rod being held more upright than in the second shot. I am presuming he got the fish off the hook and into his bag, and that it will provide some sustenance for the fisherman.