Story of a Successful Hunt

[Bigsmoke]

A couple of weeks ago, a Blue Heron started hanging around the neighborhood.  He (I guess it's a he) would walk around here and there, then take to the wing and go up the road a short distance, then repeat the procedure, etc.  I have always liked those birds.  White ones seem to be much more common, but occasionally a blue one would pop up.
Earlier this week, Ms. Smoke called to me that the bird was in our front yard.  So, I dropped everything and rushed out to take a look.  By the time I got there, he was at the road and heading east.  It was just a short trip as he stopped in the next door neighbor's yard.  After he poked around here and there, he dropped into his stealth mode and presto, like a flash, he struck.  Viola, he came up with a gopher!  I was impressed.
Here is a photo of his lunge.  I think it is pretty cool stop action.  He has just connected with the gopher but has not pulled it out of the hole yet.  And his right foot has not come down to ground yet.  I would guess a second later he had the rodent secured in his beak and was making sure it wouldn't kick and scratch on the way down its neck.

I was going to post a few other photos but they didn't come out.  Oh well, he obviously was happy and I was too.
John (Bigsmoke)

[No Powder]

Good photo John. I thought they only ate fish. You could always build a pond and stock it with big bass and trout.

[Bigsmoke]

I always thought that myself.
But go figure, this guy seems to have a taste for rodent.  And he is quite successful as well.
And no, I do not see a pond in my miniscule yard, this year, or next year either.  After that is not looking promising either.
John

[Winter Hawk]

Cool photo!  I also thought they stayed by the water and caught fish only.  It seems this guy (gal?) has come up with a better way to make meat.  I hope it catches on with this buddies!   

~Kees~

[Bigsmoke]

Yep.  I only wish he and his friends were around here about 5 or 6 years ago when we were having a gopher infestation.
We tried gassing them and it worked pretty good for a while.  Tried setting traps for them, but I don't think we harvested more than a couple that way.  I did whack a few with a shovel.  Then we said the heck with that and dug up the whole front yard, laid down some heavy felt and covered that with white gravel.  In the planter areas we dug down half a foot or so and covered the area with a 1/2" wire grid.  That really did the job quite well.  But overall, I would have liked to see a bunch of those herons come in and be well fed.
John

[No Powder]

I understand.

[Winter Hawk]

Then we said the heck with that and dug up the whole front yard, laid down some heavy felt and covered that with white gravel.

In Fairbanks almost 50 years ago now (my, how time flies! ) one of my neighbors did something similar, but in the middle of the front yard, with the circular driveway going around it, he put in a raised portion on which he proudly exhibited his old push mower.  It was hilarious!

~Kees~

[KDubs]

And I've been wasting .17 ammo on gophers around my yard.
 I need a heron.
 Send em over here when you're done with em.
Cool pics
Kevin

[Nessmuk]

Great Blue Herons nest near my camp in Upstate New York, I've seen them eat fish, frogs. lizards, chipmunks, Baby ducks, even small turtles. They also have the most raucous croaking cry I've ever heard. Still I wish one would visit here in Oklahoma and eat my gophers and moles.