Great Blue Heron

A few weeks ago,

I was walking my dogs a block from my house

when a Great Blue Heron drifted overhead 

and landed on the street in front of my neighbor's house.

I had never seen a shore bird alight on the street before,

much less stand and eat the remains of a fast food sandwich 

that had been run over after someone dropped it from their car.

It was in the early afternoon, so there was no traffic,

and the heron stayed a long time finishing

 its convenience meal before taking flight.

photo courtesy of  morguefile.com

Then yesterday, a blue heron flew very low over my car

as I was driving home.

For a large, long-necked, long-legged bird, they are surprisingly elegant.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

"All about Birds" has an eloquent description of herons.

It is so beautiful, I'm including it here:

Whether poised at a river bend 

or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats,

 the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. 

This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage 

often stands motionless as it scans for prey 

or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. 

They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons 

can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. 

In flight, look for this widespread heron’s tucked-in neck 

and long legs trailing out behind.

(Click on the Cornell Lab link above for more information
about the Great Blue Heron.)

photo courtesy of morguefile.com

Not much about The Cornell Lab of Ornithology description above

was news to me, but I confess I've never heard of a Great Blue Heron

"snapping up a gopher." 

That sounds like way more than a mouthful,

even if they may be referring to what is called 

a small "pocket gopher" or a ground squirrel.

Spotting white egrets or blue herons flying overhead

or wading in the river, lakes, and marshes near my house

always seems like a special event.

Maybe it's because of the graceful, undulating curve of their neck

or their long angular legs, or maybe their dusky blue coloring.

Whatever the reason, they are a bird to watch.

Especially if a gopher happens to be around.

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