Amazing Egret Struggles to Swallow Big Gopher

bukaymedia.com This egret failed to swallow the gopher on its first attempt. It took about 9 minutes to completely swallow the large gopher that it caught. This video condenses the struggle to about 3 minutes. It doesn't show the last 3 minutes where the bird mainly still and rested from the struggle. It used gravity very well to help move the gopher towards its stomach. The dark circular marks on the egrets stretched throat at 1;44 - 2:05 appear to be the front and hind feet of the gopher!
According to National Geographic, Great blue herons have been known to choke to death by attempting to swallow fish too large for their long, S-shaped necks. The link is at
animals.nationalgeographic.com.... I have found no reports of an egret. choking on prey. However, I can easily imagine that this could happen after watching this one struggle to squeeze the big gopher down its skinny neck!
You may notice that there are marks on the egret's extended neck as it stretches its neck skyward to help swallow the gopher. These marks on the birds plumage may be do the the appendages of the gopher pushing outwards trough the tightened throat skin of the egret.
I filmed this event on March 15, 2012 at Miller Knox Regional Park in Pt. Richmond, CA, along the San Francisco Bay Trail after several days of heavy rains. Two days later, in the same area, I filmed a Great Blue Heron catching 4 gophers in a row! You can watch that video at • Heron Kills 4 Gophers ... . The gophers may have been more vulnerable than usual due to partial flooding of their burrows after the recent rains.
Here is an egret (possibly the same one) catching fish in slow motion in the same general area: • Egret Catches and Mani... .
I used a Panasonic GH2 camera to capture the footage.

[@fattymcbutterpants9700]

When the waiter asks if you are enjoying your food

[@vwlover4677]

I wish my girl had that birds gag reflex!

[@meandmyself3007]

The heron was so full after finishing that big gopher

[@journeyquest1]

There were a couple that used to hang out by my work. I named them Eddie and Edith.

[@visualvirtue9640]

Terrific capture, thanks for posting.

[@NCF8710]

It's amazing that the large gopher doesn't constrict the egret's airway during the process of swallowing.

[@mikefoley3785]

The same reason people don't choke to death every time they eat. The esophagus carries food down to the stomach and the trachea carries air to the lungs. They are separate tubes.

[@NCF8710]

I know that. I was noting the fact that the trachea wasn't compressed by the large gopher in it's throat.

[@missin90s16]

Wish it would choke

[@gothic_oma]

It's my understanding that the nasal passages work independently, so that's why they don't choke.

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

We met once a few years ago. It was during the Herring run. I was taking photos with my G12, and you were making one of these cool videos. You were kind enough to show me your video and sound capture. Panasonic continues be a leader in budget video.

[@mbukay]

Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you enjoy the videos. Regarding Panasonic budget cameras, my current favorite is the Lumix FZ200. It has a 600 mm lens (24x) with a 2.8 f all the way through the zoom. It's great in low light for the price! It's light weight, so I can easily carry it when hiking.

[@leonardorisakwe6675]

Nice soundtrack for the action..👍🏿

[@BettyAnne2402]

I didn't even know birds ate mammals like that. They usually eat fish since they slide down easily. Then again, I saw a huge pelican eat a pigeon once while at the beach. That was nuts.

[@jamesbailey4885]

This is the Great Egret, not a Snowy nor a GW heron. The yellow beak and black legs/feet.

[@syedhosneyjahab1941]

Scientists still couldn't differentiate between Herons and Egrets except their body colours

[@nadeemashraf5794]

Needs more than glass of water

[@FrostyCranmer]

Just needs some dipping sauce

[@chrishull5543]

Brilliant film,what Camera were you useing.

[@mbukay]

chris hull l used a Panasonic GH2 with the Extended Telephoto setting on the camera, and a 140 mm zoom lens.

[@razormaku8045]

Egret: where the FCK is that bottle of beer?

[@Hakucho64]

That really sticks in my craw.

[@LCMNUNES1962]

QUASE MORREU ENTALADA COM RATO, Ê PRA CAGA DEPOIS ?

[@jeremywestern7067]

Is that a gopher?

[@firegator6853]

no it's a shark

[@GazAce]

Now this dude should seriously crack open the "Beginners Guide to Gluttony" by A G Heron (A G = Acid Guts)

[@liduck52]

Talk about biting off more than you can chew.

[@Liuhuayue]

This feels like first world problems.

[@KCsBabies]

Gopher is sticking its arms and legs out rigid in the hope it doesn’t go down and gets released - but the bird is not going to give up so easily... sorry Gopher 😢💝💐

[@eightinches6094]

He bit off more than he could chew (so to speak).

[@GazAce]

Not sure about "back to the hunt" I reckon that score would've tied him over for a day or so 🤔

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

I used to eat my lunch at Pt Richmond when I was truck driving.

[@mbukay]

Nice place to stop. In fact I see this little town as a "hidden jewel."

[@zofe]

The gopher was dead by the "capture" presented.

[@PAULLONDEN]

Sometimes one wonders if predators like these birds ,reptiles or fish ,that swallow their prey whole , have tastebuds that make them actually enjoy a meal...? Or just enough to make out if something is edible, and it will do to replenish energy to keep on living... Some animals like lions or other felines, one gets the impression they actually enjoy the taste of a meal....Looks like the gopher was already dead...unless it got speared through the heart. Egrets, herons......they have the friendly habbit to impale their prey.....

[@MJE112358132134]

It's probably better (for the prey) than being swallowed alive and uninjured.

[@withastickangrywhiteman2822]

The enjoy food absolutely, Or they won't bear the suffering of sallow so big a meat.

[@beeman10power]

AAARRKKKWWWWAAAKKK! ...Sounds of choking? ...HA! ...eeww! ...Payce.

[@ebe7840]

Nature is strange sometimes.

[@azeri9437]

.

[@rachidghi96]

heron not egret

[@mikefoley3785]

It's a Snowy Egret. Egrets are in the same family as herons and are closely related.

[@cju4300]

Tasty gopher