Great Blue Heron

Description:

This is the largest heron in North American heron standing 115–138 cm (45–54 in) tall and weighing 2–3.6 kg (4.4–8 lbs). This heron is mostly a blueish gray with brownish thighs. The neck is rusty gray. The head has a black streak running above the eyes, white cheek patches and white crown. There are two dark plumes just above the eye that run back along the head and down the neck.

Habitat:

This is a wading bird of wetlands, ponds, lakes, and streams.

Notes:

I was hiking the trails and boardwalks of the Corkscrew Swamp when I found this great blue heron. As I watched, he suddenly cocked his head and then stabbed into the duckweed covering the pond and came up with a small turtle. Good news for the heron, bad for the turtle as it became breakfast.