This time of year if you look closely you'll see a bird perched on logs in marshy areas, among tall grasses. They don't really look like herons since they don't have the long legs and necks of the great blue heron, although they can crane their necks pretty far, surprisingly so. They are green herons. Sometimes their sharp, slightly hoarse cry is the first sign that one is near. They have a slight crest, but usually it's flat against their heads.
For some reason I really like green herons. It makes me happy when I see them. I've taken all these pictures in the past week at Patrick Eagan Park.
