Blue Heron - ?

Spotted this guy fishing frogs or fish in the pond behind my apartment.
I believe it's a blue heron, but I'm not sure.
ID/confirmation would be appreciated.

It is. Called Grey Heron in some parts of the world, I believe.

greenjeans wrote in post #18665512
Called Grey Heron in some parts of the world, I believe.

I don't think I've ever heard of these being called grey herons,
but I thank you for the confirmation, Mr GreenJeans.

There's a white heron I've spotted here too, so I'm keeping the camera near a tripod
at the ready by the window.

Grey Heron is a Eurasian species, very similar to our Great Blue's but different. Certainly have a GBH; appears to be a young one from the markings I see there.
https://www.allaboutbi​rds.org/guide/Great_Bl​ue_Heron/

Your white bird is, most likely, a Great Egret rather than a Heron; although, they also appear very similar.
https://www.allaboutbi​rds.org/guide/Great_Eg​ret/

Many thanks for further clarification, Eric.

Here's what the bird did before he cleared out;
taken through a Tokina-made Soligor 400mm f/6.3 from the 1970's:

SkedAddled wrote in post #18665550
Many thanks for further clarification, Eric.

Here's what the bird did before he cleared out;
taken through a Tokina-made Soligor 400mm f/6.3 from the 1970's:

| Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Yup; they're awful doofy for being such large birds

Snydremark wrote in post #18665647
Yup; they're awful doofy for being such large birds

It seems you're correct on all counts, Eric.

He/she displayed some goofy antics before heading out,
and your link clearly shows differences between juvenile & adult.

While I haven't spotted the white one(s) for more than a glimpse yet,
I believe it to be an egret after viewing the provided link.
So thanks for the information, sir.

I also have plenty of mallard ducks and Canada geese here,
as well as the occasional wild turkey.
I think I'll keep a long lens and a tripod at the ready for the more unusual
sightings around here. The old Soligor seems to do well.

SkedAddled wrote in post #18666965
It seems you're correct on all counts, Eric.

He/she displayed some goofy antics before heading out,
and your link clearly shows differences between juvenile & adult.

While I haven't spotted the white one(s) for more than a glimpse yet,
I believe it to be an egret after viewing the provided link.
So thanks for the information, sir.

I also have plenty of mallard ducks and Canada geese here,
as well as the occasional wild turkey.
I think I'll keep a long lens and a tripod at the ready for the more unusual
sightings around here. The old Soligor seems to do well.

Keep us posted I would say the old lens is doing just fine for you from that output!

Snydremark wrote in post #18666998
Keep us posted I would say the old lens is doing just fine for you from that output!

Many thanks, sir. I'll want to improve my sharpening and general processing skills,
but yes, these old well-built lenses can do a great job of imaging.

I suspect this is a slightly immature Great Blue heron, common in MI. Take a look at the middle photo here:

https://www.allaboutbi​rds.org/guide/Great_Bl​ue_Heron/id

DLeeT wrote in post #18667581
I suspect this is a slightly immature Great Blue heron, common in MI. Take a look at the middle photo here:

https://www.allaboutbi​rds.org/guide/Great_Bl​ue_Heron/id

Yep, this ^. The bird is a Great Blue Heron. Grey Heron, mentioned in posts above, is an Old World relative. It looks virtually identical, but, as Snydremark said, it's actually a different species.

DLeeT wrote in post #18667581
I suspect this is a slightly immature Great Blue heron, common in MI. Take a look at the middle photo here:

https://www.allaboutbi​rds.org/guide/Great_Bl​ue_Heron/id

Jack Dawe wrote in post #18669102
Yep, this ^. The bird is a Great Blue Heron. Grey Heron, mentioned in posts above, is an Old World relative. It looks virtually identical, but, as Snydremark said, it's actually a different species.

Thanks, guys.
Eric posted the same link, but I missed his mention of the difference between Blue & Grey.

I've seen blue(s) out here before, and they've all looked the same, so they're juveniles.
It's be nice to shoot an adult, but maybe this is a 'training ground' for the juvies - ?

Well Craig, you have a lot of info to process from this 1 thread. Let me add 1 more tidbit:

the white bird, the the Great Egret(I was once told do not call it a Great White Egret) might actually be Snowy Egret, About 1/2 to 2/3rds the size with a black beak; the Great E. has a yellow beak. Believe Snowies are in Mi. Also,a Snowy in breeding plumage is jaw-dropping!

Oops, shoulda checked before I started yakking. The Snowy Egret doesn’t stray far from our coastlines in the U.S. Sorry.

ardeekay wrote in post #18672007
Oops, shoulda checked before I started yakking. The Snowy Egret doesn’t stray far from our coastlines in the U.S. Sorry.

Perhaps not in any great numbers, Rog, but Snowies regularly turn up, for instance, even in Minnesota and Manitoba.