Can anyone identify this bird?

[eveman]

This morning I got up a 5:00 am to go fishing at my favorite fishing hole.
The air temp was 5 degrees C. and the water temp around 25 degrees C.
There was steam coming off the water.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30298164@N05/2893082535/
While I was fishing this bird arrived and stood on the opposite shore watching me for a while, and it was still pretty cold, hence the steam.
www.flickr.com/photos/30298164@N05/2893043415/in/set-72157607546282037/
When the air temp warmed up finally, he/she flew off.
I was wondering if any of the bird watcher could tell me what kind of bird he is.

 

[digital flower]

Great Blue Heron ( Ardea herodias)

The color on that first is amazing.

 

[eveman]

Thanks Digital Flower.
Are they considered endangered?
I guess he was just passing through.

 

[TrickyRic]

I don't think the Heron itself is that rare, however it differs so much in appearence with each species that it's a rare find to spot more than a few that you recognise from previous outings.

That said, I'm definately not a bird watcher and could quite easily be talking out of my rear end .

If you're interested, here's a Heron we spotted a while ago in Toronto, just catching fish in one of the parks around here. http://picturepostbox.com/images/image568.jpg - http://picturepostbox.com/images/image567.jpg. The focus in the second shot was a little soft but being the only chance I got to take a shot of it with a fish, I kept it anyway.

 

[matt-l]

Not rare but maybe for your area. the tropical storms have brought a lot of migrating birds to random place. i know here we had a night heron for the time in 3 years due to the storms.

 

[EricD]

Nice photos!! GReat Blue Herons are a dime a dozen here in Florida. Great bird to catch in flight.

Nice job on that first pic with the fog/steam look!!!