Nature Done Wright

The Warden's Watch is great place to chill on a summer evening.

You can just sit and relax and leisurely scan the lake for birds — especially if you have a spotting scope.

Last night, my wife Patty and I enjoyed the twilight stillness and counted five great Blue Herons on Lake Appert and its distant shoreline.

When a sixth flew in from the vocinity of Wood Duckling Pond and landed near another in the middle of the lake, we watched as a peculiar behavior manifested itself.

Both herons stood there with the bills straight up in the air, like bitterns. (Distant grainy pic of same below.)

The one who had been there longer had its wings out as well, looking a bit like a Mummer, and slowly moved toward the intruder.

The intruder inched away, and flew off to from whence it came.

A silent turf war had ended in a truce/acquiescence.