a harsh croak

With a hoarse croak, a young Night-Heron landed on a branch right over my head. I studied it carefully to try and put to rest the eternal question of which Night Heron is which. This one had a long neck, a heavy bill, thin white stripes on the neck and small white spots on the back; all that plus the croak (different from the Black-crowned's croak) led to call it a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. The marsh itself -- or rather the marsh perimeter -- was full of American Goldfinches, more than one generation of Common Yellowthroats (including a singing male, a female and several young) and a flock of House Sparrows along with a few House Finches, many Song Sparrows, and Black-capped Chickadees. I think the ripening Iva or Marsh Elder was the lure but there were also a lot of insects mixed in which may have interested some of these birds. Just coming into bloom: Seaside Lavender and Marsh Aster in the wetlands. Also a few Evening Primrose have started to flower. Eric Salzman