Great Blue Heron hunting gophers in local park

Two toes continues his adventures

[@DMBall]

Takes a while to swallow a big one. I'm surprised it doesn't block the heron's windpipe.

[@jimzenor9148]

I noticed a tube on the tongue recently on a photograph I took with the beak wide open. I wondered if like a python, that tube might allow some breathing while swallowing. I’m not sure. I have seen them struggle much longer on much larger gophers so they do seem to have some way around it. Ill have to study that more.

[@p47koji]

You begin to wonder if Two Toes is getting on in his years since he's been coming up short... How long have you known him?

[@jimzenor9148]

I think he is struggling a bit from the line on his foot but Two toes is very skilled. I think the gophers are much harder. The park is big but due to thick and tall grass the actual hunting area is small so only the experienced gophers are left. It is fascinating to me how quickly Two toes seems to recognize when a gopher has made him and he moves on to a more likely opportunity. I’ve become quite convinced the bird is smart and he makes very good decisions.

[@JamesSmith-jr2rc]

Quite a few misses today.

[@jimzenor9148]

Yeah honestly there were a couple misses that I didn’t include because I was in the wrong light or place. Gophers are much harder to catch lately and some is because of the fishing line on the foot but mostly it is because of the gophers just being more wary, the grass is thicker, and maybe the dirt is drier and harder.

[@cjsytb]

nice closeups at the end. such a majestic bird! 👍

[@jimzenor9148]

Yeah it really is. At times the bird still amazes me how magnificent it is.

[@Imad_Oofus]

That heron was very patient but in the end he decided to gopher it.