If you frequently confuse herons with egrets, you are not alone. They are not biologically distinct and they have the same build. It was an EGRET you might have seen in the puzzle today: “Wetlands wader.”

The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague, and depends more on appearance than biology. The word “egret” comes from the French aigrette that means both “silver heron” and “brush,” referring to the long, filamentous feathers that seem to cascade down an egret’s back during the breeding season. Just to confuse you further, those feathers are also called egrets.

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At 25A, the clue was “Option in a ‘no strings attached’ relationship,” and the answer was CASUAL SEX. Is there such a thing? I don’t think there is such a thing for Jews. It never gets below frantic. In any event, if your footsies tend to get cold, you can throw on some of those TUBE SOX at 50A. And you can hang out IN PJS afterwards (46A) — maybe scrounge up some EDIBLES (10D)?

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There was some consternation about 43D. The clue was “Crept,” and the answer was SNEAKED. Some thought SNUCK would be better. Technically, both are correct. Pabloinnh said:

I believe it was Dizzy Dean who used “slud,” as in “He slud into third.” Goes nicely with “snuck.”

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At 62A the answer was THAT SUCKS, for “Oof, sorry to hear it.” Kitchef shared this example of its usage from the movie Top Secret:

Dr. Paul Flammond: “The secret police broke into my house. They tore me from my family, ransacked my laboratory, and brought me to this dungeon.”

Nick Rivers: “That sucks.”

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Let’s close on that eloquent note. See you tomorrow!