Agua Caliente, Great Blue Heron

Agua Caliente, also called Roy Drachman Regional Park, is about 100 acres with three ponds. The first pond, fed by the "warm" spring is the most productive. Great Blue Herons are year round residents. Because the park has picnic tables and is easily accessible it can get quite busy with people. This may be why the Great Blue is sometimes easy to approach -- and photograph. The pond has a nice population of largemouth bass and tilapia. I've seen a Great Blue catch a two or three pound fish, juggling it around in its bill until it can "swallow" the monster. There is a 1 1/4 mile trail around the ponds so it makes for a nice leisurely "hike." There is also a visitor's center with book store run by the Audubon Society.