Justification: land dwelling tetrapod (arms modified as wings and bipedal), scales modified as feathers (Aves), long legs, long neck, long straight beak, ansiodactyl feet, wading (Pelicaniformes or Gruiformes because difficult to distinguish externally), however slate blue coloration & pea-green legs helped me to identify it as a little blue heron from personal experience.
Weather: Mostly sunny; hot
Location: In neighborhood pond
Behavior: stationary/wading through pond hunting with other bird species
It was cool and humid with a temperature of 76 F. The tree overhangs a pond in apartment complex. The individual flew to a branch with another Red Shouldered Hawk of similar size and appearance.
Clade Archosauria: dry skin with feathers or scales, does not have overlapping scales (not lepidosaur)
Class Aves: feathered, flying animal with scaly hindlimbs and beak
Order Accipitriformes: large talons, hooked beak and forward facing eyes, skin on legs and around eyes and beak were not yellow