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Ardea herodias
Very large wading bird with a greyish blue hue to the plumage. Largest heron in North America. The neck is quite sinewy, and the beak is thick and dagger-like. Stands motionless or wades very slowly when hunting, can move lightning quick to catch prey. Flies in a very slow, graceful manner with its neck folded into an S shape, and the legs trailing behind. Check out the close up on the face in pic 2, they're hilarious looking! Very dinosaurian.
Found by a man-made pond by a golf course in Orlando, FL. Lots of reed beds.
Allowed me to get very close, and also chased off a nearby great egret (comparable size, but clearly the great blue is king of the roost!)
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