Great Blue Heron hunting and finally catching and eating a gopher Reuploaded 4K

I like how patient the Heron was, but in the end he decided to Gopher it.

Herons are modern day dinosaurs, incredible hunting skills, they look so elegant with their long thin beak, but that beak is a powerful weapon, part harpoon, part dagger, part jaws, it's like a Swiss army beak.

Gopher didn’t seem to struggle at all 😂. Dude was like, aight you got me lol. Went from dirt tunnel to throat tunnel.

Just incredible how the heron was as motionless as a lawn flamingo when waiting for the perfect time to strike.

I lived nearby for 9 years and used to walk weekly through different parts of the park. I witnessed the birds successfully catch their prey and devour it. Good work.

the patience of the heron beat my own!! Amazing how the heron is steady and pounces on the oblivious gopher. Glad you were able to catch a glimpse of this amazing animal!

The trick is to swallow the Gopher head first...then they just "scamper" on down to the stomach...Yikes! I think the Great Blue Heron stabbed the Gopher at the base of his skull and spinal cord = Quick Death...

Nice catch. When I was a kid, in Florida, I often watched big herons hunting lizards, snakes, other birds, mice, etc, really far from the water, they would just stroll the lawns and eat like they were at an automatic sushi vendor.. really awesome birds.

The lion of the marsh strikes! Brilliant video, I often enjoyed watching these guys and the egrets when I lived in FL.

Lived in El Dorado Park a few months in the early 70s. Missed out on the Park part!!!

When I lived in So.Florida, we use to have a big lake/reserve by our back yard. I was always amazed watching the blue herons slowly stalking their prey and eating it. Seen them eat everything, from small ducks to fish and even large snakes!!!!!!! Nature is incredible

I was prospecting in the San Gabriel mountains. It was after a flood so the river had risen and was muddy. I saw a heron watching this one spot be the rapids. I fish too so I thought this might be interesting. Ten minutes later his head shot into the water and he came up with a fish. As he shot up, his feet went flying out from under, the fish flew out of his mouth back to the river and he got his ass soaked. When he came up he was pissed. Flapping his wings ,jumping screaming. The frustration measurable. I could hear the cuss words. I've also seen them creep up to the waters edge, look, slowly back up and shift to another spot and repeat. Being a Fisherman also, sometimes he'll glare at you like you're screwing up his fishing spot. I just tell him '" look, you've tried for half an hour, give someone else a chance" and he'll move up river.

Stunning film work! 👍👍

And there's yer dinner! Maranatha, Greetings from Tampa Florida 😎

Such an amazing shot of this Great Blue Heron, Jim! Thanks for sharing my friend. Best regards, Thomas.

I saw something similar where I live on the coast. Amazing hunters with keen eyesight and incredible reflexes. Thanks for uploading.

Wow! Thank you so very much for this work. When I was a kid in south Florida I used to watch these birds and many others for hours on end through my granddad’s WWII field glasses… anyone who wants to know about the non-avian theropod dinosaurs and their likely behavior? Watch these avian dinosaurs and we’ve got a good idea . Thanks again, liked and subscribed ❤️

Outstanding video Jim. Excellent capture. Noticed he was all decked out with his mating plumage too. 👍👍👍👍

Instant kill! That gopher had it lucky, compared to other victims.

The gopher looks out and thinks "hey...I don't remember a tree there before. Oh well..going to visit cuz next door".