Sighting the Great Blue HeronArlea herodias, whether standing or flying, is enough to light up any birding trip. This beautiful bird is not only large it is absolutely elegant. Staring at the water, looking for fish, it is a lesson in absolute fixed attention. Any ADD child could learn from this bird. These photos were taken at multiple places including the Arboretum, Arcadia, CA, the Everglades National Park on Shark Valley Trail, FL., San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA, and Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve, Huntington Beach, CA. Photo 1186 is of a Great Blue Heronry in the back bay of Irvine, CA. When I first came upon this Great Blue Heron Ardea Herodias 0862 in the elevated walkway at Gatorland I thought I was seeing a new species of Heron. I have never seen the Grate Blue from above before and did not realize it had such a broad white band on its crown.