A seabird gets in a flap as killer whales prey on hapless ducks off Brit coast
Wildlife photographer Guy Edwardes snapped the pod of orcas as they hunted eider ducks off north-east coast of Scotland
A GAGGLE of ducks had to paddle for their lives after a pod of hungry killer whales went after them.
Wildlife photographer Guy Edwardes captured the dramatic confrontation after following the orcas off north-east coast of Scotland.
For many unlucky birds known as Eiders, the looming black fin and gaping jaws of the killer whales were the last things they would see.
But the rest of the ducklings shown scattering about are the ones that got out alive.
Guy said: “As the orcas approached they caused the Eiders to scatter. Some of the ducks dived and others fled to the shore - it was only these that survived.”
He spotted around four or five orcas in the pod off the coast of Mainland, Shetland, including an enormous male with a five-foot tall dorsal fin.
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The waters surrounding the Scottish islands are one of best places in Britain to catch a glimpse of orcas – but an entire pod is still a rare sight.
Killer whales hunt in packs and can grow up to 32ft long and weight as much as ten tons.
Some orcas feed mainly on fish, others on sharks and rays while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and dolphins.
Seabirds like these are a tasty treat too.
They have also been known to attack large adult baleen whales.