While baking cookies, I turned just in time to glimpse a huge dark something fall into the backyard.  When I walked over to the window, I saw this slowly strolling on the grass. I reached for my phone, too late. It had perched on the fence.

It hung out there for a few minutes. Carefully strolled from one side to the other. I hurried to get the camera for a decent shot, but I was too late. Again.

So these are as good as they get. From my brief research, I am speculating that this is a heron.

Dark, dusty-looking feathers. Dusty or steely blue. Solitary. Likes to roost in trees. Dark stripe above the eye. Flies with neck curved like an “s”.

Is it a Heron, and Egret or a Crane?

Hope your holiday preparations and plans are pleasantly proceeding!