I've been looking for the herons the last few days, didn't see any this morning near the Piney Branch tennis court, but this afternoon I went for a walk near the Sligo Golf Course, and afterwards, just after 7 pm, on the way back, I pulled off near Dallas St. (Ave.?) and checked the spot they nested last year.  And there they were--five of them!  They seemed to be checking out the place and each other.  I'd never seen them raise their back feathers so that they looked like sticks, not plumes, but all of them were doing it at times.  Even heard a few loud croaks, which I usually haven't in the past.  One was on an old nest, and two seemed to be making a new one.  

I heard a lady walking her dog telling another walker about the birds, and found she has been watching the herons along Sligo for years, as she lives in the neighborhood, and she clearly loves telling people about them.  She said today was the first day back, and since she walks her dog there every day, no doubt she's right.

Very nice to watch them!

Patricia Wood
Silver Spring

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