[Birdtalk] Reddish Egret or Little Blue Heron

[David J. Allan]

Hello Jack:

I was looking at the Reddish Egret when you pulled up behind me on the  
north dike of Curlew Friday 8/3 - the guy in the black Jeep Cherokee.  
I don't have any photos of my own to refer to, but my observations and  
notes make me, IMHO, 100% certain the bird is indeed an REEG. Five or  
ten minutes before you pulled in, I was privledged enough to watch the  
bird do its foraging dance routine, raised wings and all. I thought  
the size and shape of the bird was about right. Looking through my  
spotting scope (at 40x) while the bird was probably 50 yards off,  
somewhat shaggy plumes on the throat were evident as were some coming  
from the crown; Little Blue Heron wouldn't have that.

The thought of LBHE did cross my mind briefly while I was looking at  
the bird, but everything I observed except the bill color pointed to  
REEG. The bill seemed to be dark gray with a slightly darker tip. We  
did have kind of a bad angle though for the colors to really pop;  
looking from the north with the sun above and slightly south of the  
bird.

Enjoy!
David Allan


Quoting Roostertael at aol.com:

> Hi,
>
> I am just looking at my pictures from Friday, and I am convinced it is a
> Little Blue Heron. It seemed about the same size as the Snowy Egrets it was
> with. The Reddish should have been much larger.  ???????
>
> I sent a photo to Milt, and I hope he can get it right up.
>
> Jack Binch
>
>
>
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