Black-crowned Night Heron

Another early evening at Palo Alto Baylands and after shooting tons of Avocets and Stilts, along with all the Egrets and Ducks, I came across this fellow at the top of a tree. Night Heron's have their name as they are mostly nocturnal (only come out at night). The reason why this one was out and about during the early evening is he was watching over a female sitting in a nest about 3 meters away in the branches of a tree.

Not wanting to disturb her too much, I decided to snap this guy and now he's a blip!

Enjoy large!