It’s the time of year at Stow Lake in Golden Gate park for the blue herons to return, make a nest at the top of a large cypress tree on the island by the snack bar and go to it. But some days things get a little out of hand, such as the other day. See, an interloper heron appeared on the scene, and the mom on the nest, and the father figure, got into a madcap chase off. It looked something like this:

Out of here.

Stalling for time?

The chase is on …

En garde –

Preening for a new beau?

On the nest.