There are many Great Blues in Arizona, but not many Little Blues

May 16th, 2009: Gilbert Water Ranch Little Blue Heron

Hey everyone,

I went to Gilbert Water Ranch yesterday afternoon and I was able to find
the Little Blue Heron still present in pond 1, who walked in a pattern
back and forth while feeding continuously.  He was feeding with other
Herons and Egrets.  I watched him and filmed from 3 to 4, in which the
heat was terrible, but I sat under a big tree along the water line where
the heron was closeby, and the tree offered good shade.  The heron at one
time walked literally 15 feet away from me.  He even walked about 200 feet
out in the middle of pond 1 to join a White faced Ibis who was feeding as
well.  By sitting still, most of the other herons and egrets didn't see,
to mind my presence either and came very close, and it was fun to watch
them. 

Little Blue Heron

Here is the link to my video of the Little Blue Heron on youtube, and it 
has a high quality button at the bottom right corner of the video screen 
if you wish to view in high quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QAvMz1Yc4M

Good birding,

Tommy DeBardeleben (Glendale, Arizona)