What was this winged creature? UPDATE ON POST #1

[Imp]

Last night I left BYC to make a run to the feed store and grocery store. I got home just as it got dark. I came in the front door and decided to go lock up the coop, so went right out the back door.
As I walked outside I hear a noise in the yard next to the house and the goldfish pond. It's not near the coop.
I then see a large bird take flight. Although it was dark, I live in an urban area so there is always a little light in the sky. I can see the silhouette of a huge bird. Looked like an eagle and as large as one. It was quiet as it flew.
BTW- the chickens were fine and all 3 outside cats showed up for dinner.
So the suspects are:

2- Great Blue Heron, They do scope out my pond frequently, and I've seen them flying at the very razor edge of darkness. Didn't seem like a heron as it flew away. Not clumsy taking off and no whump whump whump of their wings.

Well, Apparently I have a winner. Today I went out to clean up the yard and as I was cleaning leaves & water Hyancinth out of the pond; I noticed there are no fish in the pond. There are a few places where they could hide, but not 12-15 large goldfish. So I'm thinking it was a Heron that was able to stick it's neck under the netting over the pond. The water level was kind of low. Guess I fed a Heron a holiday meal.

Imp

 

[PippyChicken]

It was for sure #4.The vampire.I've had some at my coop before and the damage is awful so be careful.You can set out a huge trap and put a bowl of blood in there and within a day or

so you should have caught a vampire.

Sorry I can't really help but hopefully whatever it is I hope all your birds are safe!!!

 

[zazouse]

I would say it was a heron.
We have alot of ponds and a resivor that runs across the front of our property and my dogs spook them sometimes at night making their rounds they look huge against the moon light.

 

[woodmort]

Probably a vampire but you may be lucky and it'll be either Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt. Otherwise, since it was around your pond I'd suspect an eagle if you've got them around that close--they'd like a meal of fish, even small ones, if they're hungry enough.

 

[zazouse]

 

[redhen]

Dont Imps have wings??

 

[TomG]

no sound when flying suggests owl to me.

 

[33yardbirds]

I'm going with the Hoot Owl folks. Good night vision and quiet as a church mouse in flight.

 

[noodleroo]

Maybe it was a 'Lechuza'. For those that don't know what that is, here's a good story link:
http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/156Lechuza.htm

 

[Imp]

I'm completely befuddled. Have no clue. I'll be keeping my eyes out to see if it comes back.
Seemed awfully big for an owl, but that makes sense at night.
I've seen herons flying as the sun came up, so they must leave their rookeries in the dark.
But it just looked like an eagle in silhouette

Maybe Redhen is on to something. A rival imp out to steal my pot of gold.

Imp- Oh right that's Leprechauns

Grumble grumble why can't imps have gold?