I’d always felt there was more than one heron that’s been visiting my backyard ponds for the last ten years. One would land and catch our fish while we gardened 30 feet away. Another one would watch from a neighbor’s roof for half an hour before coming in for lunch, but would bolt if you darkened a window.
The mature Billy Heron, we now learn, would arrive and dance and stretch, as lithe and graceful as a bullfighter, and more lethal. (pictured above)



The daemon bullfrog Voldemort scarred Harry with a desperate swipe, leaving the lightning bolt marking behind, before Harry consumed him. The lightning bolt is the last vision that a bullfrog sees during its life cycle. Photo taken 6/6/20.
The likely Juvie Harry Heron has visited 3 times this week and it’s only Tuesday. Harry seems clumsy and keeps hunting in a pond Harry’s already cleaned out. Nothing but minnows left after Harry’s through.
I am looking through my 30 photographic encounters with the Herons. But my older, clear shots of the left profiles do not spot any distinctive markings in the lores or elsewhere. Two of the pictures only hint at a faint yellow. Lores and other markings are subject to seasonal variations.