Something caught my eye on Saturday morning when I glanced out the kitchen window. I did a double take then had to grab the binoculars to see what it was. My first guess was a great blue heron but something was quiet different about this one. Firstly he was not in the water but instead he was on the bank near the lake edge. Secondly there was something very white and bushy like a long beard flowing in the breeze. Once I took a peek thru the binoculars I knew it was indeed a heron but he certainly looked different than all the others I have seen. I don't know if this one was a male or a female but because of the beard I thought him to be male. I don't know if this is a winter time feathering or if he keeps the beard year round but he sure was a pretty thing. Of course I grabbed my camera and took pictures. He stayed in the same spot for several hours and then he was gone. He looks quite plumped up as you can see in the photo below so he may have been sleeping. He was standing on one leg for most of the time. What an interesting sight. I've seen tons of heron but I never get tired of seeing them and each time it is something that causes me to stop and give pause and just enjoy a few moments watching.
Update: I just had a thought... maybe this was Santa Heron. You never know, with that long white beard he does resemble Santa!
