Gone in one big gulp! Moment a hungry heron bolts down a 20-year-old pet fish

• Photographer Gary Clarke recorded the footage outside his home in Liverpool 
• The 47-year-old said that he had heard a commotion and went to investigate
• He saw a grey heron attempting to swallow a Golden Orfe fish from his pondA hungry heron was caught on camera gulping down a 20-year-old pet fish.

  Photographer Gary Clarke recorded the footage outside his home in Liverpool after the bird snatched a Golden Orfe from his pond.

  The 47-year-old said he heard a commotion and went out to investigate but 'couldn't believe his eyes'.

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  Photographer Gary Clarke recorded the footage outside his home in Liverpool after the bird snatched a Golden Orfe from his pond

  

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  The bird appeared to have bitten off more than it could chew as it dropped its snack to the ground

  In the clip the grey heron can be seen grappling with the large orange fish in an attempt to gulp it down.But it seems the bird has bitten off more than it could chew as it drops its snack to the ground.Just a moment later it is ready to chow down once again as it scoops the Golden Orfe back up into its beak.

  It eventually manoeuvres the fish into the perfect position and swallows it down whole.    

  

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  Gary, 47, said he heard a commotion and went out to investigate but 'couldn't believe his eyes' as the heron attempted to swallow the pet fish

  

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  The grey heron battled with the fish before it eventually manoeuvred it into the perfect position and swallowed it down whole

  Gary, a self-employed kitchen and bathroom fitter, said: 'We must have had the fish for over 20 years going off the size of it. 

  'So it was quite painful watching the bird devour the Golden Orfe. 

  'At the end of the day, it's nature and the heron has to eat I suppose.' 

  Golden Orfe are active shoaling fish that can grow to more than two feet long.  

  They are often a popular choice for those with ponds as they do not seem to fall prey to many of the diseases or parasites that affect other common fish - such as goldfish and koi - and are fairly resistant to disease and illness. 

  Orfe can often live up to 20 years although there are some reports of them reaching closer to 30 years of age.