| | A big bird, and not on Sesame StreetAugust 11, 2009 - Bill AckerbauerJoan Sayer of Johnstown recently sent us these photos of a large water bird, which appears to be a great blue heron, visiting the Hale Creek, which runs past her home. I live around the corner from Joan, and the same creek flows past my backyard, but I didn't catch a look at the heron there. I have, however, seen a similar bird flying in and around creekbeds in Gloversville on two occasions, both just after dawn in late summer — once near the Caboose on West Fulton Street, and once between the Rail Trail and the old Manor House restaurant. I'm no ornithologist, so I can't tell you how rare it is to sight one of these creatures in our area, but I recall my reaction to seeing it (both times) was along the lines of "Whoa! That thing's huge!" Furthermore, the recollection brings to mind one of my favorite poems with a local connection, "A Bird at the Leather Mill" by Joshua Mehigan. The copyright police would surely come after me if I were to publish the poem here, so you'll have to click on the link to read it ... Readers are always welcome to e-mail me their photos and video of footage of strange animal sightings — great blue herons, pink squirrels, loose moose, sasquatch on a skateboard, you name it. Drop me a line at backerbauer@leaderherald.com. PREVIOUS POST: The Two Doctors Article Comments(8)DiscobulousAug-17-09 12:29 PM Let's hope it doesn't suffer from atheism like the girl from Wells. MissLilacAug-15-09 6:44 PM We have seen a bird, most likely a blue heron, twice on Rte. 29 over by the Hales Mills Road area. Absolutely amazing site! DiscobulousAug-14-09 11:30 AM Must have been a real coy heron. I saw a scarlet teenager and a sap sucker sucking sap the other day. PreacherAug-13-09 4:39 PM A blue heron visited a friends backyard pond in the City of Amsterdam last summer. The heron was feasting on her $100+ coy fish! Not sure if the heron made it. nymommaAug-12-09 1:00 PM Not very rare in western montgomery county, but is a beautiful bird to look at. Don't see to many, and they dont normally go in flocks. FireKattAug-12-09 12:17 PM They aren't rare but they are beautiful...and to see one taking off is incredible...you think it's a small plane. They are in the swampy area of Rt. 5s past the lumber place and also around the sprakers swampy area a lot. Well not A LOT but often enough to know they aren't a rarity. Now last night my daughter called me outside to show me this huge fly...it's larger than a quarter and looks like a regular fly almost but more gray than black and boy is it loud when it buzzes. Never saw anything like it. And no it isn't a horsefly. I know what they look like. DiscobulousAug-12-09 10:49 AM I don't believe it's that rare. I see one several times each summer while fishing, particularly in the West Perth area where there are farm ponds and also in similar areas in Stratford. They are fishing too. Post a Comment | in: News, Blogs & Events Web Blog Photos(Photo submitted by Joan Sayer) Blog Links |