© RICK LEWIS/ BARCROFT USA

Now there’s a mouthful!

For full words and pictures:

These extraordinary pictures of a heron devouring a helpless gopher whole are nothing new for the residents of Arrowhead Marsh in southern California.

That is because this particular heron has become known locally for its unusual choice of dinner, adding a diet of squirrels and small rodents to its more traditional fish supper.

© RICK LEWIS/ BARCROFT USA

Captured in two separate picture incidents three years apart, the same heron is seen indulging its un-fussy approach to food.

The most recent photograph of the carnivorous heron was snapped on May 1st of this year, clearly shows the look of absolute horror on the face of the poor gopher as it realises it is a goner.

“This Great Blue Heron is well known in the Almeida area around Arrowhead Marsh as a ruthless hunter,” said Rick Lewis, 55, the photographer who captured the amazing pictures.

“I usually go down there to photograph the rare California Clapper Rail birds, but every now and then I see this heron in action.

“The first time I saw it happen in 2007 I mentioned it to a local and she shrugged her shoulders as if to say it happens all the time.”

Over the course of the past three years, Rick estimates he has seen the heron eat around 40 squirrels and gophers and its appetite shows no sign of dimming down.

“In these photos the heron stalks it prey like it would a fish, approaching slowly until it is able to strike,” said Rick.

“The speed at which it darts down is incredible and now I don’t necessarily expect it to re-emerged with a fish on its beak, but pretty much anything that lives in the marshes.”

© RICK LEWIS/ BARCROFT USA

So fast is this particular heron with its lightning speed, that Rick claims that sometimes he has seen the heron literally impale its prey on its beak.

“I have seen it stab its beak straight through a squirrel before,” said Rick.

“It had to open its beak and rip open the squirrel just to get it down its beak.

“But in the two cases I photographed, the heron picked up the gopher, gave it a violent couple of shakes and then either swallowed it in one or flew off to eat its meal elsewhere.”

Talking about the terrified look on the face of the gopher he photographed before it was devoured, Rick is quite plain.

“That gopher was making a hell of a noise before it was flown off to become that heron’s dinner,” said Rick.

“It was a great shot, as was the first time I witnessed it three years ago.

“That is some bird.”

Words by James Nye.

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