I had an adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron at 0810 this morning (Friday) in West St. Paul on the west side of Lily Lake. The bird was sitting on a low tree branch which extended out over the lake in the NE portion of the property owned by the Oakdale Community Church. Directions: take the Butler St. exit off U.S. 52 (3 miles S of 494 or 2.5 miles N of downtown St. Paul). Go west to the first stop sign (Sperl St.). Continue west 1 block to Carrie St. and turn north and go 2 blocks north to the corner of Arion St. and Carrie. The church will be on your right. Occasionally I see a caretaker there so ask permission if he is on the site; otherwise there is usually no one present. If the heron is not visible here, go north to Bernard St. and turn east (right) for .5 blocks. There is a public right-of-way (unpaved alley) between two widely spaced houses which could be walked to and utilized as a scoping area but park on Bernard St. There is a small brush pile on this right-of-way. I'll check again later tonight (I live on this lake but Pete, the Carolina dog eats birders during the day) and post additional information if the heron is still there. Bob Russell
