a great blue heron

A great blue heron

wading slowly in shallows

turns its neck to preen

I stop at Osage Pond early in the morning to watch a solitary heron wading in shallow water along the shore. Its long yellow bill, black eye plumes, blue gray body and white neck plumes tell me it's a Great Blue Heron. The largest North American heron, it can be as long from head to tail as 140 cm (55 in) with an impressive wingspan as much as 201 cm (79 In). Typically lone feeders, the heron steps slowly, sometimes pausing with one leg cocked, searching with keen eyes for fish, frogs, aquatic insects, or whatever else might come within reach of its long, sharp bill. Then it stops and gracefully curves its long neck down and back to preen its fan of feathers.