i loved your story of birds so engaging:)

I’m still going to pretend it’s our same Prince Harry, just back from his world tour, just with a change of wardrobe lol

If you can catch one earlier in the morning, when less people are about, they seem to be less skittish, I’ve noticed. They can see/hear you coming a mile away, though – very slowly walk up, even use a soft greeting from fairly far away, to let them know you’re coming, so as not to surprise them – and they’ll stretch up their long necks to look at you. Once they get used to you and know you won’t try to catch them or get to close, you may be able to get a few close-up shots. Beautiful job with these, though, by the way!

I’m so excited you got to see one even this close, though, amazing, aren’t they?
And I’m so glad I know another “bird nerd” that gets as excited as I do upon finding one lol.

I found this about the differences between the blue and grey heron.

http://www.arthurgrosset.com/sabirds/greatblueheron.html

Or if you want information overload…

https://frank.itlab.us/TBL/Harvesting/Herons/Birding0202p24-33.pdf

So looking at your brilliant photos versus my crappy cell phone ones lol – it seems there just a few slight differences – not sure if that’s a slight species difference from the UK to America or individual difference. No spots on the neck and the black on the black above the wings extends down in front of the wings a bit further.

I’m putting a photo of our local Prince Harry up (next to a copy of yours) on my blog for us to compare, I hope that’s okay? I’ll credit you, of course (as IF people couldn’t tell it wasn’t you versus me and my cell phone anyway). I never got him from the front, though.

Slight differences between the herons here and there, but much is the same, much like the UK and UK

BTW, some Native American cultures believe seeing a heron brings you luck and if it flies in front of you, you should follow him (particularly if it’s your totem) to your luck or treasure lol (However, it seems you had a lucky day already seeing so many of nature’s wonders that day.)

BTW again, a Snowy Egret has taken up residence in the small lake near us along with Harry. He’s much shyer than Harry, so difficult to get a picture, but I’ll try

My garden birds are a delight and so was unexpected sighting of the heron.