I first started seeing the Little Blue Herons at sunrise and sunset walks, just a glimpse now and then. A tease. The first Little Blue Heron I ever saw was on this river, 16 years ago, and since then, not another one.

Then this summer I started seeing just a few. Just at sunrise and sunset. If I am out and about, which is also uncommon.

At first, it was one. Then there were two. The last time I saw the pair they circled wide over the river and then flew to the small island. I've seen them leave it together a couple of times. I suspect they are nesting there.

I quietly moved closer and stopped to watch the bird, this evening. He ignored me and strolled along the edge of the sandbar, slowly, head out stretched. Neither his posture nor his silhouette was quite right for a Little Blue. I thought, perhaps he is a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. We have at least two pair nesting along this stretch and I see the adults almost daily. The last time I saw an adult, there was a juvenile with her.

Yes, I finally got at the right angle to light, river, and bird to see him and it is the young Yellow-Crowned. I am very glad that the first time I saw one of these guys, two years ago, that he was with an adult then, also. The only hint of relationship are their crimson red eyes. The juvenile is a very plain, brown bird with white speckles. Of course, he does have that spike of a bill. That is probably what gave him away in silhouette.

I know I haven't been around much. Busy editing "Moving On" and climbing over all my mental blocks. Haven't written much else, been about ready to give up if I always have this much emotional crap over editing. Maybe someday I'll get confident and lackadaisical about it. Right now it trips a lot of old abuse issues.

Working in spirts. Did a bunch of clipart today - flowers. LOL. Maybe I'll sit around tonight and draw these small herons for a nice change...

Good birding!