Oh. Henry.
We’re not sure if what he picks up of the world is the same as what we do. (LoC/USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Henry is an odd bird.
Discussion mulls whether a dimwit or savant.
Certainly appears to be a devote of Close Encounters – attempting to reach out.
A Forest Gump type of guy.
Or maybe even more simple: He’s a living breathing WALL-E.
We see him every afternoon. He waits.
Molly Malamute is quietly please and thinks he waits for her – a secret admirer. (Families would keep them apart – like Romeo and Juliet).
He stands so still as we pass in the sidewalk. Is that hope in his wide eyes?
Out of the corner of our eye, we see him following – at a discreet distance…until we pick up the pace towards home. For a bit Henry will try to keep up. There’s something desperate – a loneliness in his posture.
Molly smiles to herself and looks back, but we discourage any encouragement from her.
He’s not your kind.
We worry a bit about him as he looks so young – and crosses streets without looking. Did he leave home too soon and now regrets? Yearning for the nagging and being lectured, “It’s dinner. Eat that or nothing.”
Won’t someone take him in?
He’s not afraid of working the yard. Looks dashing lounging in the landscape.
Henry obviously needs some direction…or an attentive waiter.
“Oh, Henry! It’s January. Baby, isn’t your mother calling?” Young crane closely examining rose bush in neighbor’s yard. Quite unperturbed by dog or human, he sometimes walks right towards you as if considering asking for directions or a snack. (© image)
Birds of his feather should flock together – over in the wetlands or lake.
We think Henry is a Yellow-crowned Night Heron. (Audubon Field Guide here/pictures) which would account for his greeting us at dusk near the landscape lights that draw insects, frogs lured by the sprinklers, and fish of the lake a few hops away. We’ve seen him perched in the oak trees. Henry is dressed for success in snazzy head feather complimenting elaborately detailed wing feathers.
Oh, Henry. Hope you’re a simply loner and not lonely.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
“Hey, where did everybody go?” Looks like Henry. (Sky99/Commons.wikimedia.org)
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
I like Henry. He seems like a good old bird. Not too cuckoo nor one to parrot what all the other birds are saying. He’s his own bird.
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And one quick to realize and homestead prime real estate. Quite the bold one. He’s been around so much we’d miss him. Thanks for cheering Henry.
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He is a yellow-crowned night heron (even though they’ll fish in the day), and they do tend to be solitary. I’ve been seeing one looking for a meal in the median of South Shore Blvd., down toward the golf course. Who knows? It might even be the same one.
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His feather design is so ornate (and we think he like to show it off. Amazing how close we are without realizing he is there…do wish he’s stop following us like a stalker sometimes.) Some interesting characters around here. (Time to stock in cat food with weather approaching – we are now in the “storm warning” category…they better have all the birds cleared out of the substation – don’t want to lose power like those poor people over by 45 did over the weekend. UGH. Great for the plants, though…and do I really want to put that last round of fertilizer on the yard…it’s already a jungle out there HAHA)
Thanks for swooping in to add a comment (And I am trying catch up with comments/blog reading…)
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Handsome fellow. I do hope he’s not lonely.
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Henry is a very beautiful bird – it would be difficult to paint an more intricate feather design. Thanks for adding to the comment nest
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I think the name suits him perfectly, handsome looking chap reminds me of some bloke I know quite well
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He is quite dapper. Thanks for feathering the comment nest
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He’s maybe just taking a break from a nest full of noisy fledglings. It must be pretty crowded.
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There’s always a rebel in every flock. Thanks for swooping by to comment
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We need more rebels 🙂
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Wonder if he is hoping for an introduction to your flamingo(s)- granted, we hope he has friends among his own kind, too– or maybe he is studying humans in the wild for his thesis?
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Oh, maybe you’re right – he does look like a very proper lad willing to ask Molly for a proper introduction. Could he be paparazzi wanting a flamingo interview?
Thanks for flying that comment this way
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You need to treat Henry with considerable respect if you have decided he is one of the Heron volk!
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He’s certainly a charmer – and has apparently decided he is lord of the realm. What a cool guy! (and hope he find shelter during this tropical storm tonight other than his tree…perhaps on one of the local porches. One neighbor has a local raccoon show up in a very sheltered spot on his covered patio. Henry is a lot more handsome and able to talk his way in.
Thanks for feathering this comment nest
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