The long-hunted Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) finally showed itself—though 'twas me mates Mark and Dottie who laid eyes on the beast. They hailed me swift as a cannon shot, sayin' they had the skulkin' scallywag in their sights. Aye, I didn't spy it meself first, but I did lay me own eyes upon the swamp parrot at last—and even fired off a shot with me picture-box 'fore it vanished into the reeds like a shadow at sundown.
Behold, the scurvy bilge-bird!
A scrappy young deckhand of a heron, not the regal adult I'd long dreamed of—but after 35 years of chasin', I’ll take what I can get. Best part? It be just a few leagues from me own roost, right here in Middleton. Arrr, not a bad day for this old seadog.
Where the checkmark ought to fly, there be nothin' but the cold stare o' failures past.
At last! The blaggard be crossed off me list! Let it be known across the Seven Marshes—Nyctanassa violacea now sails in me log.
All images © 2025 Mike McDowell