Big burd

[Phill]

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy337/Phill_Rawlins/San%20Diego/burd.jpg

Dunno what flavour of bird it is, and not in Caithness either. But it was happy to stay and have it's picture took.

[Kenn]

That's a grey heron , they can be quite accommodating when it comes to photos and are quite common around the shores,lochs and rivers within the county.

[Phill]

Thanks Lizz.
This one was sunning itself in San Diego.

[pat]

If you go up Wick river just as far as Coghill Bridge there is one usually sitting on the bit of mud bank just up river - very very near and does not seem to mind all the other ducks, widgeon etc, there are other ones further up the river too, seen many around the shores of Caithness and over here in Lewis - one sits on the same stone on beach in front of house most of the year.

[Pterodroma]

Phil

If the photo of your heron was taken in San Diego, California then it is a Great Blue Heron and not a Grey Heron. Because of the angle of the photo it is difficult to see the distinguishing features which are: greater size, more massive bill, rufous "shoulders" and "thighs" not white, dark not yellow lores. Grey Heron does not normally occur in western US.

Pterodroma