I'm reporting this because my books don't show that Black-crowned Night
Herons should be around this time of year and my husband, John Witt, is
fairly sure he just saw two in Bothell. He is not extremely experienced
but is a very careful observer. He usually carries binocs on this walks
but unfortunately he did not have them with him today.

The location is the riparian parkway that is between the buildings in the
development along North Creek Parkway. The riparian area runs north and
south and is bordered by dikes on each side with a walking/jogging trail on
top of the dikes. The birds were behind the 1900 buildings on the east
side of North Creek Parkway, just north of 148th Street.

His description is: Charcoal gray head, and back, wings medium gray
underneath, creamy breast and underparts with light grayish streaking in
irregular wide stripes on breast, bill dark estimated 2" long, moderately
slender but not what he would call thin, both mandibles same color. Legs
did not seem long. Roosted in an upright stance. The birds flew by him
down the riparian area and perched in a tree about 80' away. He walked to
within 15 feet and they flew again, headed north.

Mary Ann Chapman
Seattle
206-285-2880