Do you know this bird? It's from a previous hike.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238268)
Walnut Creek, California
November 4, 2020 11:56am CST
One of the highlights of our hike around Lake Anza a couple of weeks ago was meeting this bird. He (or she) was on this log as we headed out, and still there when we came back. It appeared it wasn't a great day for fishing, but he waited patiently, motionless.
In the way back, we spied a small Western fence lizard on the log, moving in short quick bursts, as they always do. The bird saw the lizard too. He started moving silently toward the lizard, and Rob and I were able to see clearly that he had claws, not webbed feet. We were also struck by how he moved slowly and with great balance, like a cat.
Eventually, his potential snack realized the bird was there, moving in, and disappeared beneath the log. Do you know what this bird is? He was way "chunkier" than most birds we've seen around our local lakes. I think we figured it out a couple of days later, but I'll avoid throwing a "spoiler" out there. Do you have birds like this where you live?
12 people like this
11 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Nov 20
I believe this is a heron . . . but (I had to look this up) specifically a Black Crowned Night Heron!
I know because we get these in the local pond areas . . . and my daughter the bird girl know the general names of these birds. They literally just stand there and it's almost shocking when you spot it.
Black-crowned Night-Herons are stocky birds compared to many of their long-limbed heron relatives. They’re most active at night or at dusk, when you may see their ghostly forms flapping out from daytime roosts to forage in wetlands. In the light of day adu
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
4 Nov 20
no sir, aint ne'er seen one 'f these here. did've a larger cousin to't though 'bout 20 years 'go. wiped out my koi pond...
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
5 Nov 20
We don't have this in our neighborhood. From the looks of it, it's kinda huge.
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Nov 20
O had no idea what type but seen the answer. Have never seen one here
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
4 Nov 20
We don't have this bird here in Ohio.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222222)
• United States
5 Nov 20
@TheHorse I live in Lake County; and I'm about 2 miles from Lake Erie.
