What is this Michigan bird?

Saw it near my pond, then flew up into a tree and this is the best pic I could get. Never seen anything like this before and couldn't find it in my bird book. Any ideas?

I should add this is southern Michigan near Ohio. The bird was slightly smaller than a mallard duck. Long beak, back was dark blue, orange legs.

Looks a lot like a Green Heron to me. I suppose it could also be an American Bittern as well. The attached picture is the green heron.

Ditto to Green Heron.

Resin

I live on a small lake in centeral MI. Northren Kent County. I have the same bird that has been landing in a tree in front yard. I have seen it several times trying to get a good photo. I have never seen this bird before and I can't find any info on tthis bird?

Here are a few sites that are helpful.


http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/id

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i2010id.html

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/32/_/Green_Heron.aspx

We had a bird in a tree by our house last evening. We have never seen a bird like it around here. I tried all the searches for usual and unusual birds in Michigan without anything coming up. The only thing I can think is that it was possibly somebody's pet (although we're in a semi-rural area, so not anyone close by).
The sad part, is that it's only a cell phone picture and we weren't able to get close enough to get a great picture of it. It's almost completely off white with the tail being slightly more gray, small beak, and about the size of a large cardinal. If you zoom in on the linked picture, it's right in the center of it. I didn't want to crop or enlarge it or do anything else to possibly ruin whatever resolution is there.
If you would be so kind as to take a look and give me any help on identifying it, I'd sure appreciate it!

http://i.imgur.com/uW8q8.jpg