White faced heron

The most common heron in New Zealand - certainly in our estuary, and sometimes known as a blue heron.

I discovered today why they are often seen scratching themselves. Apparently, they preen slime and dirt from their feathers and bill using a powder down that forms from disintegrating feathers on their flanks, They subsequently remove this slime by scratching with their feet and wiping their bills on a branch.

That is probably more than you ever wanted to know about herons.