Mystery bird

[DTisme]

Woke this a.m. to catch a medium-to-large sized bird standing next to our pool. I'm guessing maybe 18-24" high? At first I thought it was a hawk, but it had crow-like silhouette and pointy beak. It was brown. When it took off, it had wide wingspan - 3-ft? - and took long strokes. Any idea what we saw?? It was a beautiful thing. We are at 3rd & Maku'u, so low elevation.

[Carey]

My guess: `Auku`u - or the night heron, zoo link:
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/black-crowned..._heron.htm

Added: DOFAW link:
http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/f...al%20!.pdf

[Morningstar]

I to believe it was a Heron. They have a wide wing span and slow to get started in flight. How wonderful for you to see such a beautiful Bird.

Morningstar

[JerryCarr]

Herons are indeed beautiful, and my favorite is the blue heron found on most of the Gulf Coast and parts of the Atlantic. We have seen night herons on the Big Island at Kapoho and Onomea. My favorite sighting was along a creek in the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens. It was a magnificent bird in a gorgeous setting.

[DTisme]

That's it! Aukuu!! Thanks so much!! And he definitely had his neck pulled in as he flew, too (sorta pelican-like).

Here's a shot that looks almost exactly like we saw, angle-wise: http://www.mycamerasees.com/Birds/Hawaii...8716_g6Scp
And I'll bet that's who ate one of our koi.

I now realize I saw another, a few months back, on trail to akaka falls, standing on rock in a stream. We used to live south of SF on the coast and we had great blue herons fly over. When they'd go over, it looked like a person.

thanks again for all your help. -dt

[Kapohocat]

DT - we have a couple of herons that fish in our pond. The bigger older male lands like a B-52 on our deck with a big thud. He catches a few small talapia and moves on. His smaller friend has not yet became much of a fisherman, and maybe catches 1 1-2" talapia before giving up.

They are beautiful to watch - you may be able to see ours here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...4059946614&set=a.10150209085346614.348523.682446613&type=1&theater

RObert drove up behind him about 4 ft with the Bronco and he didnt move, I came out to take a pic and he promptly flew off. Go figure!