I love these guys … and the same ones come year after year to Forest Park in St Louis, MO in late spring time or early summer. This is a Yellow Crested Night Heron. We have another that I call a “fatboy” simply because he is so plump looking … I think that he is called a Black Crested Night Heron. This one is more exotic looking.
Haiku:
south wind – heron’s muddy catch
noh where 
Beautiful bird, such colors on its head and wings! The herons over here come only in pure white. They are such graceful things, walking on stilts, skillfully spearing their sharp beaks into the water for fresh catch — like a warrior with a spear. 🙂
I so love herons, but this guy looks quit different from our West Coast blue herons. I love his very exotic name……
Perfectly lovely. 😉