I pictured this magnificent bird recently in Berkeley Marina. It absolutely was not afraid of people. I literally walk around him and make several shots with telephoto lens of my Pixel 9 Pro.
I am not god bird watcher and could not name exactly what this creature is. But with help of AI it is not a problem nowadays. Here is the answer of Gemini to the question: "What kind of bird is it?"
This is a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).
Key Identifying Features:
Size & Build: A large wading bird with a long, S-shaped neck, long legs, and a heavy, dagger-like yellow bill.
Plumage: Predominantly slate-gray plumage overall, with subtle reddish-brown or chestnut highlights on the shoulders/thighs.
Head Markings: White crown with a dark black stripe extending above the eye into slender head plumes at the back of the head.
