Shadow of A Pterosaur

For many years, early in the morning, I would walk throughout my neighborhood.  On one occasion, as I passed a particular property, something caught my attention at the corner of my eye. The dark silhouette was large, standing on a rock in the middle of the small pond.  I mulled over the image in my head, and decided it must have been a child fishing.  

On the return trip, I was eager to see if I had come to the correct conclusion.  Approaching the property, I scanned the shore line, down to dark green water.  The creature was standing with perfect stillness, slowly moving its head by inches, from one side to the other.  It was not a child, although it was fishing.  About 4 ft tall, this bird was plumed in blue and gray.  It had long, reedy legs and a large bill 
that reminded me of needle nose pliers.  

At home I grabbed my worn, beloved field guide and flipped page after page.  Finally, I found my bird.  "Great Blue Heron", I read.  How exciting to see it living in the wild, in that beautiful, tranquil spot.  And another name to add to my "Life List".

Since that day, I have seen herons in many locations.  MY heron has continued to travel back and forth over the houses of the neighborhood. But this week brought something new.  There was the Great Blue Heron flying, with his neck pulled in the customary "s" shape.  His legs tucked under his body and stretched straight back, wingspan and beak, huge.   He soared high, upward, and was suddenly joined by a second heron, and then a third.  They flew together across the rooftops.
 
I watched in awe and thought of ancient animals that once filled the skies with terror and magic.