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”.
![Heron, so. cal. bird sighting](https://i0.wp.com/www.sheiladelgado.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Heron.jpg?resize=605%2C437)
Is it a Heron, and Egret or a Crane?
Hope your holiday preparations and plans are pleasantly proceeding!