I think it's a Great Blue heron. Boy.........you are lucky!

catherinet speaks as someone who was lucky enough to see a Great Blue Heron in her driveway.

Claire

Thanks, catherinet, for your fast response. We do get many kinds of herons around here, but I've never seen any in our driveway!

Do you have any idea why those two birds are grooming next to each other in my photo? Is that usual behavior for them?

Thanks,
Molie

Hi Molie,
I just googled "albino great blue heron" and sure enough, they aren't totally uncommon. I'm not very familiar with the big birds, but maybe that's why you're seeing them together?

The white bird is a Great Egret.

BN

Is it common to see them together, BN?

I have seen them using the same areas for their nesting here in Ky. Great blues are pretty common here. They will even find and use outdoor garden ponds with koi in them for easy feeding.

Yeah, I've heard that on the water gardening forum........the herons can be a problem for koi lovers.

I've also heard that whooping cranes sometimes fly with sandhill cranes, so I guess some of these guys can get along. :)

Yes, it is common for them to feed/hang together andto even nest in the same rookery together.

BN

Thanks BN.