Here is something you don't see everyday...at least not in my back Yard!

Robert Hankins

Robert Hankins

Joined
May 19, 2003
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Have seen these things flying south for the winter but never had one land on my roof:D
Funny since I live in the middle of the Desert

Bird
 
That is interesting to see those in the desert. We have those all over the mideast.
 
Obviously a Canadian heron of advancing years, looking to retire in Arizona and escape winters. A "snow-heron".
 
We have great blue herons that hang out here all year along the rivers. They don't stray too far from the water here in the desert because they are fish ( and bug and frog etc) eaters.
 
We have tons of them here on the island. They're beautiful birds and can live to be 34 years old. They don't have any natural enemies. Here's one that was in my yard last week. He was ill and we tried to help him but he died the next morning. I called Fish & Wildlife but they said it was just old age. He had gotten tangled in our blackberry bushes and we went out there and cut the vines and Paul carried him across the street to the field where they sun themselves. The next morning he had passed.
 

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It is unusual that when I saw your photo that I recognized the same bird!

We had one of those last year on the roof of our neighbor behind us. He was there for about a day and my dogs were going crazy. He finally left for parts unknown.
 
I am certain he was just resting on a journey elsewhere. However the City lakes and canals have plenty of fish, stocked by Fish and Game dept. Canals bring in water from the Lakes, reservoirs and the Colorado River.
 
We noticed one yesterday in a pond, foot up standing on one leg, totally still deep in bird meditation. It's very neat to watch them fish. They seem almost prehistoric when they fly, like something out of the Jurassic. I find it intriguing how they curl their neck in when flying. That one looks like a Greater Blue Heron. There is a smaller Lesser Blue Heron, also.

The white ones are egrets, I believe.
 
Have you guys seen Great Blue Heron Male in full breading plumage ? Really awesome looking long feathers that dangle down from their head (where's IG when you need him:) I know there's a joke in there somewhere)Anyway,really cool phase of plumage.I grew up on a river where we used to watch them all day long in the summers,yes fitzo,so prehistoric looking.And like you said watching them hunt ( I'll say hunt cause they eat more than fish),I have seen them take crayfish,snakes,&fish you would swear were so big they wouldn't be able to fly after eating them.
 
Watched one in the slough infront of my house a few mornings ago, stalking very carefully, then nailed a mouse, it was a little hard for him to swallow, but he got her down! I have watched them fish for years, but never saw that before.
 
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