Great Blue Heron catches gopher in very nice light

I was happy to find one of my herons hunting in the park today.

[@bpp299]

Have gopher pests in my backyard so I watch these videos with great pleasure. Thanks for the regular uploads.

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@MarcPagan]

Thanks for another interesting video. Bill Murray and the team from "Caddyshack" are also fans. "Varmints! A menace to the golfing industry" :)

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks. I’ve been having a hard time finding herons this year. I have suspected they might be hunting more on the golf course(s) but it’s hard to access them.

[@houseofno]

Heron: "Yo, time to pay your rent. It's you or the cash. Pick one..." Gopher: "Look it's been a little slow but I swear the check is coming..." Heron: "Wrong answer. Time's up..."

[@Daily.cooking7]

Loved every second of this video. Keep up the fantastic work🔔🤝🫶💚🙏⚘️⚘️⚘️⚘️

[@rockkitty100]

a gopher with a death wish....... can I rent a Blue Heron for my yard??????

[@uncertainzee]

Wow wow wow, I can’t remember another of your videos where the heron was so persistent! I loved the over the shoulder view at the beginning of the video, I was anticipating a capture from the bird’s perspective. I must say after watching all your videos I still cannot see what the bird sees.

[@jimzenor9148]

I would love to detect a gopher before the heron but even when the gopher is right beside me, it seems the heron will always see it first.

[@robbernath]

@@jimzenor9148 I expect the birds' hearing is also pretty attuned to the gophers' movements beneath the surface, so that probably helps them hone in on correct striking locations.

[@jimzenor9148]

@@robbernathoh yes I definitely agree.

[@Wild_birds7]

Di Indonesia burung ini lagi musim bersarang

[@mirage4014]

Just come across your Channel, Lovely Videos. Do you mind me asking what camera you are using? and just subbed , Thank you

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks. I’m happy you liked them. I generally use my Canon R6 equipped with a Canon EF 400 mm DO lens.

[@DMBall]

It was a whopper. Have it your way.

[@robbernath]

Someone better tell Captain Stubbing that "Gopher" won't be returning to the 🛳. 😉 Glad to see you post another video, Jim. It's been awhile.

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks Rob. I think the gopher eradication efforts earlier this year were too successful and hunting has been tough this year. I think the herons probably have some better hunting grounds but I haven’t found them yet. I was a little surprised to find this bird yesterday.

[@InsectsVD]

Good Video

[@jimzenor9148]

Thanks

[@InsectsVD]

Yes Thanks

[@p47koji]

Don't you miss Two-Toys???

[@jimzenor9148]

Yeah I do. This bird limped a little as it was walking through this brush and it made me think of two toes. I even zoomed in on its feet to make sure it wasn’t two toes. It was just recently cut brush tangled in its toes. Two toes was the strongest heron I ever watched. I remember feeling the shock waves in my feet when he hit the ground with his bill.